Planning commissioners will devote another meeting tonight (Wednesday) to their own rewrite of the new downtown plan, including possible changes to a controversial report on building heights. 

The commission has been doubling up on its usual twice-a-month meeting schedule in the push to ready their version of the Downtown Area Plan in time to present it to the city council by early January at the latest. 

The commission draft will go to the council along with the original version prepared by the Downtown Area Plan Advisory Committee (DAPAC) during two years of deliberations. 

Mandated by the settlement of a city lawsuit challenging the university’s expansion plans for the city center through 2020, the city must have a final plan in place before the end of May or risk the loss of some of the university funds provided by the settlement to compensate the city for the impacts of more than 800,000 square feet of new off-campus construction in the city center. 

Commissioners Wednesday are scheduled to work on two chapters, one on housing and community services and the other focusing on environmental sustainability. 

Members are also scheduled to make some revisions to a report prepared by consultants outlining building heights and masses to be considered by the plan’s environmental impact report, which the council must approve along with the plan itself. 

The controversial report declares that new high-rises are only economically viable if they are both taller than advocated by the DAPAC plan and are built and sold as condominiums, and not as apartments. 

Building heights proved a major source of tension within DAPAC, where the minority favored bigger buildings but the majority didn’t. DAPAC had also voted specifically to reject a call for a consultant report—though a majority of the planning commission successfully voted to ask the council to approve the document and provide the funds. 

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

UC Berkeley police, joined by federal and county law enforcement, raided the Long Haul Infoshop Aug. 27 in search of the source of threats to university researchers who experiment on animals. 

The affidavit filed with Alameda County Superior Court Judge Judith Ford on Sept. 8 revealed that the search resulted from e-mails reportedly sent from the Infoshop’s computers in March and June. 

Two civil liberties organizations are working with the Long Haul to challenge the warrant: The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of the National Lawyer’s Guild. 

The search warrant affidavit, written by UCPD Detective Bill Kasiske and signed the day before the raid, followed previous warrants served on Santa Rosa-based Internet provider Sonic.net by fax on March 20 and July 22 and on e-mail provider Google on June 16.  

According to Kasiske’s affidavit, many of the e-mails targeted Yang Dan, a professor of neurobiology specializing in the study of brain circuits used in the processing of visual information. 

Her research figures in one website targeting 27 campus faculty involved in animal research, while a second website identifies her as the first among the six faculty members included in the “UC Berkeley Hall of Shame” for “stupid research on animals.” 

Police seized six computers from the Infoshop Internet room and nine other computers from offices in the building, including several taken from padlocked rooms, including one used by the nonprofit East Bay Prisoner Support. 

Also taken were two freestanding hard drives—including one that belonged to Berkeley Liberation Radio—as well as an assortment of CDs, cassettes and one plug-in flash drive. 

According to the warrant, “Since September 2007, UCPD has documented at least nine separate incidents when animal rights activists have targeted” Dan’s home. 

Kasiske’s affidavit cited one specific incident of vandalism at the residence on March 10, when city and campus police were called to her home in the Berkeley hills at 9:17 p.m. after a garbage can lid was thrown onto her roof and a window was broken. 

Investigators found chalked messages and stickers “relating to animal rights,” Kasiske declared. 

According to campus police records, a second incident of vandalism at another researcher’s home had been reported four minutes earlier at the home of Professor Stephen Glickman, targeted because of his research involving female hyenas. 

At 8:30 p.m. that same evening, police had been called to the home of a third targeted research, Professor Jack Gallant, who has conducted research using Macaque monkeys. 

Dan had also been the target of a one of two animal rights demonstrations held on Jan. 27, where Kasiske stated he had heard one of the protesters warn, “We are the friendly, above-ground activists. The next visit may not be so pretty.” 

The detective also said that protesters invoked the initials ALF, or Animal Liberation Front, a leaderless international organization which has raided labs to free animals and targeted researchers with protests and graffiti. 

The group’s initial were painted on the walls of the UC Davis John E. Thurman Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in 1987 after a $4.5 million blaze demolished the building. No arrests were ever made in the incident. 

In the 12 months ending in July 2008, UC Berkeley officially reported “more than 20” incidents of damage to the homes and cars of campus researchers. 

A UCLA researcher’s home was firebombed on Feb. 7, less than four months after the house had been flooded with a garden hose, and a van used to transport faculty was burned June 3, with the ALF taking credit in that incident. 

The most recent acts of violence aimed at California academics doing animal research came in Santa Cruz on Aug. 2, when a firebombing destroyed one researcher’s car followed by a second incendiary attack on the home of another, which forced the family to flee the house through a second floor window. The ALF claimed responsibility for both attacks. 

The ALF website lists incidents for which affiliates have claimed responsibility. See www.animalliberationpressoffice.org/ for details. 

For more on the UC system’s approach to animal research protests and violence, see www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/animalresearch/ 

E-mails 

According to Kasiske’s affidavit, several researchers were sent abusive e-mails between March 19 and 25, using fake accounts set up in the researchers’ own names. 

“The messages had subject lines such as, ‘Hey animal killer,’ and ‘Why do you torture and kill animals?’,” Kasike wrote. He cited one example of what he described as the “obscene comments” contained in the e-mail texts: “The blood is on your hands you speciesist scum. They die. You profit. Sick motherfucker.” 

Kasiske traced the source of the message to an Internet address assigned to Sonic.net, and the subsequent warrant identified the source as the Infoshop. 

In his affidavit, the detective said that he knew the Long Haul “is a resource and meeting center for radical activists. I know that animal rights activists have held meetings at the Long Haul.” 

On June 15, Dan forwarded six more e-mails to the detective sent to her the day before between 6:10 p.m. and 7:16 p.m. 

According to the affidavit, the first declared “im a crazy fuck and im watching YOU ... YOU HAD BETTER STOP KILLING THOSE FUCKING ANIMALS OR I WILL SHOW YOU WHAT I HAVE IN STORE [redacted] AND IT AIN’T FUCKING PRETTY.”  

The subsequent e-mails warned that the sender knew her credit cards numbers, the movies she had rented, and where she shopped. 

The fourth message asked “havent you been paying fucking attention to the news and what is happening at UCLA ... quit torturing animals or you’re next to receive that and MUCH worse you fucking murderous scum” 

The final message demanded she publicly renounce animal experiments: “EITHER YOU DO THAT OR I WILL FUCK YOUR LIFE UP,” the anonymous sender declared. 

Kasiske cited the e-mail texts as the basis of his determination that the sender had violated section 646.9(a) of the state penal code, which declares “Any person who willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly follows or willfully and maliciously harasses another person and who makes a credible threat with the intent to place that person in reasonable fear for his or her safety, or the safety of his or her immediate family is guilty of the crime of stalking.”  

The administration of Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums introduced its long-awaited public safety strategy to selected members of the Oakland public Thursday evening to a pointedly skeptical reaction, outlining an ambitious program in which each of Oakland’s neighborhood would be organized for citizen participation, work on local public safety problems would be filtered through area public safety coordinating councils made up of city officials, police representatives, and neighborhood groups, and a citywide public safety policy council would oversee city goals and strategies. 

But representatives of the city’s Neighborhood Crime Prevention Councils and other invited citizens told city representatives at Lake Merritt’s Garden Center that the mayor’s proposed new strategy was top-heavy, too time-consuming to attack neighborhood problems, and did not provide for enough input from the city’s youth community and residents. 

“You need to quit calling out the community to come and partner with the administration,” said Gloria Jeffrey, co-chair of NCPC Beat 32Y on the MacArthur Corridor in Deep East Oakland. “The administration needs to come out and partner with the community. That’s the problem, so don’t come out here and preach to us about what we need to be doing. We’ve already been working on the problems.” 

A visibly angry Jeffrey and several members of her group walked out on the meeting early. 

Dellums’ interim Public Safety Director Arnold Perkins told meeting participants that the suggestions and criticisms would be considered for incorporation into a final public safety plan, which he said the mayor wants to sign off on within the next two weeks. Perkins said the plan would also be floated to a number of other community-based organizations (including faith-based groups ) and to county representatives and “other stakeholders” before beginning implementation in October. 

Outlines of the proposed Dellums Public Safety Plan have been around for more than a year now. It is based on an expanded theory of community policing, in which public safety grows out of a partnership between city agencies, the police department, and organized neighborhood residents. Under the proposed plan, all city services would be divided up into the three geographical divisions (North and West Oakland to the lake, Lake Merritt to High Street, and High Street to the San Leandro border) that have been set up for the Oakland Police Department. Each area would set its own public safety goals and strategies through a Public Safety Coordinating Council, and would carry out those strategies through Service Delivery (SDS) teams divided between police, city attorney, and city administrative personnel. 

The heart of the Dellums public safety strategy—and perhaps its most controversial component—is developing the current NCPCs (Neighborhood Crime Prevention Councils) into the representative organizations for each Oakland neighborhood for the delivery of all city services. Under the category “strengthened community engagement,” the proposed Dellums plan passed out at Thursday’s meeting advocates “expanding [the] scope of Neighborhood Crime Prevention Councils beyond crime prevention to function as Neighborhood Councils that address a broader range of neighborhood issues.” 

Assistant to the City Administrator Jeff Baker, the city’s Measure Y violence prevention coordinator, told meeting participants that in order to have “parity” among the NCPCs, the administration is proposing undertaking extensive training of residents in how to run meetings, organize their communities, and solve community problems. 

Comments from the audience showed that the community public safety activists present were not yet convinced. 

When Perkins urged meeting participants to help with the implementation of the mayor’s plan, saying, “I need for each of you to help make this work,” shouts came back from the audience, “It’s not us. We’ve been working. It’s the city that’s not doing it.” 

As for the plan itself, which included an elaborate flow chart from the NCPC’s, the City Council, and city agencies down through the SDS teams, the Public Safety Coordinating Councils, and the Citywide Public Safety Policy Council, a board member of Oakland Community Organizations (OCO) called the proposed organization “structure heavy.” 

That comment was echoed by Jeff Collins, formerly a member of Oakland’s Community Policing Advisory Board, who told city officials, “I’m afraid we have too much structure here. I think we have too many layers to go through.”  

Commenting on one statement that the structure would facilitate the mayor getting reports on what is needed in the community, Collins added, “I don’t think we need to get more reports to the mayor. I think the mayor needs to come out and meet with the NCPCs.”  

Several participants said that the proposed structure left out young people, who were among the principal victims and many of the perpetrators of Oakland’s violence. 

“Young people are asking, why aren’t these meetings announced on MySpace or advertised on KMEL?” said Youth Uprising outreach worker Martina Hardaway, noting that these were the outlets the city ought to use to attract more youth. Hardaway added that there needed to be more action on solving the problems and less talk about setting up new structures.  

“This is a strategic meeting,” she said. “I want to know when you’re going to stop strategizing and start doing something.”  

Others wondered why the various “interest groups” were getting a chance to review the mayor’s proposal separate from the NCPC’s and other public safety neighborhood groups, and asked for the plan to come back to the NCPC’s after any proposed changes before going into the implementation phase. 

Following the staff presentations, meeting participants met in groups for a half an hour to discuss the proposal, presenting staff with several recommendations for modifications. Perkins said the suggestions would be considered and some of them may make it into the final public safety plan. 

The Berkeley Board of Education last week unanimously approved a plan to put the historic Hillside School at 1581 Le Roy Ave. up for sale. 

Oxbridge Development, the consultants hired by the Berkeley Unified School District to determine whether the district should sell or lease the property, recommended the move at the board’s meeting Wednesday. 

Built in 1925 after the original Hillside School on Virginia Street burned down in the 1923 Berkeley fire, the building is a split-level three-story wood-frame Tudor designed by Walter Ratcliff. The school closed down in 1983 due to declining enrollment. 

Its main building straddles a trace of the Hayward Fault, which makes it unsuitable for public use, district officials said. 

The building was designated both a city and a national landmark in 1982 and the district subsequently rented out its rooms to artists and nonprofits, including the International Child Resource Institute, the Berkeley Chess School, the Berkeley Alumni Association—which organizes reunions for past students of Berkeley Unified—and iPride, a bi-racial and multi-ethnic children’s organization.  

The board in 2005 formed a citizens’ advisory committee to review whether the district should sell the site, and in December 2006 the committee recommended surplussing the property explaining that it was not suitable for public school function because the Field Act prohibited classroom structures on seismic fault sites. 

The committee also reported that district officials had said that the site was not appropriate for administrative use and added that the property had deteriorated due to a lack of maintenance since it stopped functioning as a public school more than two decades ago. 

In August 2007, under recommendation from the committee and district administration, the board paid Oxbridge Development $32,000 to assist the district in deciding the fate of the Hillside property. 

Several organizations which rent space within the 2.85-acre property from Berkeley Unified told the school board at the public meeting last week that they were interested in leasing the site long term. 

Elizabeth Shaughnessy, founder and executive director of the Berkeley Chess School, which moved into the Hillside School several years ago, asked the board to allow the property to be listed for sale and long-term lease simultaneously. 

Ken Jaffe, executive director of the International Child Resource Institute, said that a number of tenants at the site were interested in long-term leases and possibly even buying the property. 

Peter Lydon of the Hillside Neighbors Association said Hillside residents wanted to save the building and the playground.  

“There will be a better outcome for Berkeley Unified if you continue dialogue with neighbors,” he told the school board. “We think it’s an important open space and we think it’s possible to get good lease offers.” 

Freya Read, another Hillside neighbor, stressed that some residents were concerned about seismic and fire safety upgrades. 

“We tenants share a common vision,” said Kathleen Frumkin, another lease holder. “We want long-term leases so that we can continue our work.”  

Jones told the board that Oxbridge Development had not found a “substantial proposal for leasing.” 

“There were several reasons behind why Oxbridge recommended selling the property,” Jones told the Planet after the meeting. “It was hard to find a long-term lease holder who would say I will put up $10 million to rehabilitate the building. The place needs a lot of work. The consultants talked to a couple of developers but found no interest at that level.”  

District Superintendent Bill Huyett said it was in the best interest of the school district to sell the property because of liability issues. 

Jones said the property would be appraised, after which the district would negotiate with public entities about its sale. 

“If no public entity expressed interest then private entities, such as the Berkeley Chess School can bid for it,” Jones said. 

Both Jaffe and Shaughnessy said they had offered to lease the property long-term and even buy it on several occasions but that their requests had been ignored by the school district. 

Jaffe said he had put in a proposal for long-term lease two years ago but had not heard back from the school district. 

“This has been our home for many years and we want to develop good leases at reasonable terms,” he said. “We showed clear interest but somehow that was not conveyed to the school district effectively.” 

Shaughnessy, a former school board member, said she had submitted a proposal nine months ago, but it was ignored. 

“Our proposal had an option to buy,” she said. “I submitted another one a couple of weeks ago and that was ignored as well. It would be nice if they would sit down and talk to us. We have been here for three years now and the district is doing nothing to keep the building from falling down. We used to hold chess tournaments in the auditorium but we can’t anymore. I understand the fire department requires a firewall there before people can use it. Making it not usable means letting damp get in there.” 

Jones said he had not had a chance to review the requests. “Former Deputy Superintendent Eric Smith looked at them and as far as I remember told me that ‘there were no legs behind those proposals,’” he said.  

Fresh from an almost two-month break, Berkeley City Council members will address a full agenda Tuesday, updating the noise ordinance, increasing city worker salaries, approving a 22-meeting annual council schedule, appointing a councilmember to the county Waste Authority, and doubling parking fines near campus on football days. There will be a public hearing on Mayor Tom Bates’ solar financing plan.  

Noise 

For some two decades Telegraph Avenue merchants say they’ve had their ears assaulted with amplified music and preaching almost weekly from SOS Ministries of Oakland. Merchants and area residents have complained, written letters and circulated petitions to get the city to address the problem.  

(See www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/issue/2008-07-17/article/30588?headline=Telegraph-Merchants-Petition-Against-Amplified-Preaching.) 

Complaints about amplification have also been made at the downtown Marine Recruiting Center where pro and anti-war groups have held rallies with amplified sound and the participation of hundreds of motorcycle riders. 

An updated noise ordinance will be before the City Council Tuesday, aimed at giving the city more tools to abate loud noise. The amendments include allowing no more than nine noise permits for a particular public space over the course of one year.  

The amendments also include new provisions for complaints. Under the old ordinance, complaints could be made to the Community Health Advisory Committee, a body that has not existed for many years, according to the staff report. Appeals could be made to the City Council. 

Under the new ordinance, the city manager hears complaints. The proposed law also “allow[s] the city manager to hear and render timely decisions for appeals.” 

Telegraph area Councilmember Kriss Worthington told the Planet he was concerned with the appeals process. “Why eliminate the appeal to the council as an option?” he asked. 

Solar financing 

The city will hold a public hearing on the question of creating a special tax district for solar financing and incurring indebtedness for the project. Homeowners who opt into the district will be responsible for the debt. The bond indebtedness is capped at $80 million and is an estimate, according to the staff report, as staff does not know how many people will want to finance solar in this way. 

The “Sustainable Energy Financing District” would consist only of those homeowners who want to participate, that is, those who wish to finance solar panels over 20 years by paying the costs through property taxes. 

The cost to each homeowner will be the cost of the panels or other “energy efficiency improvements,” including the cost to administer the program and interest over 20 years. 

The staff report estimates that the cost to the average homeowner will be $28,077, less a rebate from the state of $6,108. The program costs would be $600 and the administrative charges would be at 4.5 percent. The annual special tax a property owner would pay would therefore be at the rate of about $2,089 per year or $182 per month over 20 years. 

If the council adopts the bond indebtedness, holds the public hearing and adopts the formation of the district on Tuesday, the district could begin Oct. 24 of this year.  

However, no institution has yet signed on to finance the bonds, according to the report authored by Deputy City Manager Christine Daniel. 

“As of the date of the writing of this report, staff is continuing to work through various issues related primarily to the costs of financing for the program, but is confident that an arrangement with a financial partner will be reached soon,” Daniel wrote.  

SEIU 1021 contract 

About 900 city workers will receive a 13 percent salary boost over four years, if the council approves proposed contracts for city service workers and adds part-time recreation personnel to the bargaining units. 

Salaries will be raised 5 percent the first year, 2 percent the second year, 2.5 percent the third year and 4 percent the fourth year. Effective June 28 2009, employees will get a 3 percent longevity pay differential when they have worked for the city for 25 years. 

(See also: www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/issue/2008-08-07/article/30763?headline=City-Workers-Vote-for-Raises-Longevity-Bonuses.) 

Council calendar 

The council is set to approve the 2009 calendar with just 22 council meetings during the year. SuperBOLD and other community organizations have called on the council to hold more meetings so that all the council business can be done in public and at times when the public (and councilmembers) are alert. 

The council will meet at 6 p.m. as the Redevelopment Agency to look at the sale of property on Fifth Street and Virginia Street to the Northern??? California Land Trust, giving tenants in the units first rights to purchase the property. 

The regular council meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Maudelle Shirek Building (Old City Hall), 2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way. The meetings are televised on the local cable station Ch-33, can be heard on KPFB-FM, 89.3, and are streamed and archived at www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/ContentDisplay.aspx?id=9868. 

West Campus neighbors won a major victory Wednesday night when the Berkeley Board of Education approved plans to rehabilitate the former Berkeley Adult School building on Bonar Street in order to relocate Berkeley Unified School District’s headquarters from the seismically unsafe Old City Hall at 2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way. 

The district had previously decided to construct pre-fabricated modulars at the site, evoking criticism from community members, who contended that refurbishing an existing red brick building would be more sustainable and eco-friendly. 

Berkeley Unified officials and school board members listened to the community’s concerns at several meetings over the past few months and decided to give rehabilitation a chance. 

“We really appreciate the community’s interest,” said district Director of Facilities Lew Jones. “It definitely helped.” 

Jones worked closely with Superintendent Bill Huyett and Baker Vilar Architects, the firm hired by Berkeley Unified to design the project, and came up with a design that would utilize all three floors of the Bonar Street building for administrative as well as teaching purposes. 

“I think this is a good example of the school district listening to the community and taking a second look,” Huyett said. “It’s a good reuse of a facility and I am very excited about it.” 

Estimated to cost $15 million, the proposed project would also enhance the otherwise derelict campus by spending a quarter of a million dollars on landscaping Bonar, Addison and Browning streets and refurbishing the campus cafeteria. 

Jones said the board had not approved a plan to rehabilitate the entire cafeteria building, which also houses a kitchen, but added that the one remodeled room could be used for future school board meetings. 

The school board currently holds its meetings in the City Council chambers at the Maudelle Shirek Old City Hall Building.  

The district is set to lose its lease with the city for the building at the end of 2009. 

Jones said construction for the West Campus project would begin around April 2010 and that the building would be habitable by July of 2011. 

“We know that our lease with the city will run out in 2010 but the city has indicated that it’s not a big deal,” Jones said. “However, we haven’t had any formal talks about it yet.” 

In exchange for the Old City Hall building the city leases property on Sixth Street from Berkeley Unified, which is home to the health center Lifelong Medical Care. 

According to a report to the school board by Baker Vilar, the new design aimed to create a space that would “maximize efficiency and foster collaboration” between the different departments in the district. 

The majority of the district’s public functions would be located on the first floor including admissions and student support, the Berkeley Public Education and Volunteers, the Berkeley Alliance, video and film library rooms and human resources. 

Four classrooms for the Berkeley Adult School, which has its own campus a block away on San Pablo Avenue, will also be built here. 

Conference, copy and break rooms will be on the second floor along with the technology and accounting departments. 

The superintendent’s office will be located on the southeast portion of the third floor and offices for special education, professional development, state and federal programs will be concentrated around the elevators and the stars for easier public access. 

Jones said the building would be separated from the auditorium on campus and that new fire alarms and elevators would be installed to make the project comply with the Division of the State Architect’s accessibility standards. 

The building’s exterior would also be getting a facelift, including fresh paint, new glass windows and a sunscreen, and the entire structure would be seismically retrofitted. 

Berkeley Unified explored the possibility of retrofitting West Campus in 2006, but abandoned the plan after it went substantially over budget.  

“The finances changed quite a bit this time,” said school board President John Selawsky. “Our bids are coming in under our estimates because construction costs are going down and we are saving money. I think the community input for the rehabilitation was important but we wouldn’t have been able to do it if we went over budget again.” 

The current project would be exempt from the city’s zoning laws since it includes classrooms, Jones said, but would be reviewed by the Division of the State Architect as mandated by the Education Code. 

For more information on the West Campus project see www.berkeley.net/board-meeting-information. 

Oakland City Councilmember Nancy Nadel says that she was “very concerned” about charges made by Nation of Islam Oakland Mosque Minister Keith Muhammad about problems with this summer’s Oakland police “Operation Nutcracker” raids of the Acorn Housing Project, but says that police officials have assured her that the raids were properly conducted and have had the desired result. 

“Violence has definitely diminished” in the vicinity of the West Oakland housing project, Nadel said by telephone this week. She said that there was a brief flare-up of violence in the area following the raids which she understood was caused by “some younger folks in the area who were paranoid about anyone new coming in” who they feared might be trying to take over the drug trade in the Acorn project area.  

“There was distrust of anyone showing up who wasn’t known,” Nadel said. She added that the violence resulting from that situation has since dissipated. “It’s very encouraging,” the councilmember added. “We hope it continues.” 

Nadel represents Oakland’s third City Council district where the Acorn Housing Project is located. 

More than 400 officers from the Oakland Police Department as well as several other local, state, and national police agencies participated in the June 17 Acorn project raids, which OPD says netted 34 arrests, several firearms, and large amounts of drugs. Another 20 individuals were arrested in the days prior to the June 17 raids, which Oakland police now say has “dismantled the infrastructure” of the Acorn gang, a group OPD says was responsible for much of West Oakland’s violence. Since that time, however, Muhammad has made public charges that the June 17 raids were “a heavy-handed use of force” that terrorized innocent residents of the Acorn projects, and that most of the 54 total arrests resulted in releases without charges. 

Nadel said she contacted Area One Captain Anthony Toribio to follow up on the charges made by Muhammad in his presentation at open forum at a July 15 City Council meeting. Muhammad had said that “concussion grenades” during the raids had burned carpets and caused danger to residents. Nadel said she was told by Toribio that police used what they called “flash-bang” grenades which cause “noise and bright lights and are meant to distract” while officers enter. “Captain Toribio informed me that officers are instructed that they have to visually see where the grenades are being tossed, and they cannot be tossed in the direction of people,” Nadel said, adding that she was told by Toribio that “no one was hurt” in the Acorn raids. 

Nadel said that according to Toribio, only two of the 54 persons arrested under Operation Nutcracker have not been charged with crimes. 

The Daily Planet has not yet been able to verify Toribio’s assertion on the numbers of individuals who have actually been charged. 

Nadel said that she passed on Toribio’s information to Muhammad earlier this summer. 

The Third District Councilmember also said that in response to neighbors’ concerns growing out of the raids, the City of Oakland and representatives of her office held several meetings with residents in the Acorn area during the summer. 

More than 150 workers from the Berkeley Council of Classified Employees (BCCE) and their supporters filled the Old City Hall lawn and chambers Wednesday to rally for contract renewals and demand pay raises for the Berkeley Unified School District’s classified unions. 

School secretaries, bus drivers, gardeners, computer technicians and several dozen classified workers, angry over the lack of progress in talks with district officials, marched from Berkeley Technology Academy to the district’s headquarters at 2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way shouting, “No Contract, No peace!” 

“Escucha, escucha, estamos en la lucha” (“Listen, listen, we are in the struggle”) filled the air as the angry marchers waved signs and walked past Berkeley High School around 6:30 p.m., drawing honks and shouts of approval from passing cars. 

Among those who took part in the rally were the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 39, the Berkeley Firefighters’ Local 1227 and the Berkeley Federation of Teachers. 

“Our last pay raise was for the 2006-07 school year,” said BCCE President Tim Donnelly, speaking on behalf of his union. “Our expenses have not frozen with our salaries. We need a salary offer and we need the cost of one percent. We are without a contract and we have spent over 40 hours in negotiations and the only thing they have agreed upon is to give a one day holiday before Thanksgiving.” 

District Superintendent Bill Huyett said that although the district had not come to an agreement about a new contract it continues to honor the previous one. 

“I want classification workers to be treated fairly and I, for one, have always called them educators,” he said. “We have had differences about compensation but we should never lose sight of their work. These are tough economic times for everyone. Tough for the school district and tough for our employees. We do not have all of the students we projected this year and we will be reducing our budget in the fall.” 

Huyett said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger—who had proposed budget cuts for state education funds earlier this year—had yet to announce a budget for the fiscal year that began July 1. 

“There’s no budget on the horizon and there may not be a budget for a year,” he said. “We will know more in two to four weeks.” 

Donnelly said BCCE presented contract proposals to the Berkeley Board of Education in October 2007, following which the district returned with an “extremely vague document indicating which sections of the contract they would negotiate.” 

Starting on Dec. 6, union members met 12 times with the district’s bargaining team. 

“Specific proposals from the district’s team were presented one or two at a time,” Donnelly said. “Many were sloppily prepared. There were times when the district team had no proposals or counter-proposals at all. We asked all along for a salary offer. None came. In June we declared impasse. And for the second time in two years, a mediator was appointed by the state of California.” 

Union representatives and BUSD officials met with the state mediator on July 28 and the session, Donnelly said, was spent “catching up.” 

A second mediation session was held Sept. 4. 

“We agreed to meet five weeks later so that the district could bring us financial data,” Donnelly said. “They didn’t have the data and didn’t bother to notify us about it.” 

BCCE filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge this week in response to this. 

Kris Amaral, a business representative with Local 39, the union which represents carpenters, safety officers, food service workers and other skilled trade employees in the district, said that the classified unions were hoping for a multi-year contract which would provide workers with some stability. 

“We are all working for the same employer which keeps telling us they can’t give us any budget numbers until the governor signs the budget.” 

“Our union members are the lowest paid in their classification in the Bay Area.” 

Amaral said some part-time food service workers made only $12 to $14 an hour. 

“It’s hard to raise a family here on that kind of money and most take up two jobs,” she said.  

Most of the union workers said the rising price of gas and health insurance made it difficult for them to make ends meet. 

“We feel like we are being ignored,” said Deborah Howe, a library media technician at Rosa Parks Elementary School. 

“We are the backbone of the district and we feel we are being taken for granted. I thin people will be shocked to hear how much we do get paid. We don’t work in the summer so it’s even more hard for us.” 

Johnny Bilups, who has driven schools buses for Berkeley Unified since 1972, said wages for the district’s bus drivers started at $16 per hour and topped at $21 per hour. 

“We are not an add-on, we are not an afterthought,” he said. 

“We have built this district from the foundation up. We have families, we have desires. We like to go out and eat, maybe twice a year. We have not kept up with the inflation. We have not kept up with the times. I will not be relegated to an administrative role in the district while managers grow fat and prosperous.” 

Paula Phillips, an administrative assistant to the district’s Personnel Commission who is also running for BCCE president this year, stirred the crowd with her speech to the school board. 

“You may ask who we are,” she began, prompting the marchers sitting in the council chambers to stand up one by one. 

“We are the bus drivers and mechanics who ensure the safety of your child ... We are the secretaries who greet the parents every day, the food service employees who prepare your children's meals, the custodians who clean your schools everyday, the safety officers who ensure a safe haven for everyone ... Collectively we are the present but invisible force and without us you cannot function.” 

Several union workers complained about the district’s inability to finish the classification study and urged their peers to stop working extra hours. 

“I have put in more time than I am paid for but today I am telling myself and you ‘do not put in more hours than you get paid for,’” said Ann Marie Callegari, another union worker. 

The district’s Assistant Superintendent Lisa Udell said a consultant was working on a classification study which helps to provide comparable salaries for union workers.

A spectacular early morning three-alarm fire visible from miles away demolished a Berkeley hills home Sunday and brought in crews from fire departments in Oakland, Albany, Alameda County and the East Bay Regional Parks District. 

Berkeley Fire Department Deputy Chief Gil Dong said the city’s emergency switchboard was flooded with calls starting at 1:44 a.m. 

“The fire was so visible that we were getting calls from the Berkeley flats, and you could see it from Highway 24,” he said. 

When the first crew of firefighters arrived four minutes later, they found heavy smoke and flames pouring from the two-story dwelling in the 1000 block of Creston Road, which is located just east of Grizzly Peak Boulevard. 

Firefighters immediately sounded a second alarm because nearby vegetation had caught fire and the flames were threatening adjacent homes on either side of the burning building. 

Soon, they sounded a third alarm. 

While Berkeley firefighters fought the flames, crews from the other agencies covered the gaps left in the city’s own coverage, while the parks district firefighters patrolled the nearby streets looking for flare-ups caused by burning embers. 

“We found ember burns to the rear canopy of an adjacent home.” said the deputy chief. 

Two of the home’s three occupants were away at South Lake Tahoe and the third was visiting a friend. 

One firefighter sustained a knee injury during the blaze and received emergency room treatment at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center. 

Both the home and its contents were totally consumed, and damages have been estimated at $1.5 million. 

Deputy Chief Dong said the fire began in vegetation near the rear of the dwelling, ignited by improperly discarded smoking material. “It probably smoldered for a while,” he said. 

A total of ten fire engines and trucks and their crews along with two ambulances and four chief officers took part in fighting the flames, which were controlled at 3:42 a.m.  

School arson 

Students were evacuated from Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School Wednesday morning after someone set fire to the contents of a trash can in a second floor bathroom. 

Deputy Chief Dong said the blaze had been extinguished before emergency crews arrived shortly after 11:30. 

No one was injured in the incident and students were allowed to return to class. 

The deputy chief said the fire had been intentionally set. 

Tree relief 

Besides battling blazes, Berkeley firefighters were also on hand for Tuesday’s showdown at Memorial Stadium that ended with the removal of the last four tree-sitters, said Deputy Chief Dong. 

“We had am ambulance, an engine company and a chief officer on hand in case anyone fell or was otherwise injured,” he said. 

An item in the Police Blotter in the Sept. 4 issue of the Planet incorrectly reported the location of a shooting. A shooting on the 2900 block of Sacramento Street on Sept. 2 did not occur at Johnson’s House of Style but at another address on that block.

UC Berkeley brought out the chainsaws Friday, and by the time their engines went silent Tuesday, the Memorial Stadium grove was gone. 

A state appellate court ruling Thursday cleared the way for the clear-cutting, which began Friday and continued through Saturday afternoon, leaving upright only one of the 41 trees scheduled to fall. Another tree is scheduled to be transplanted elsewhere on campus. 

The last tree to fall before the chainsaw was the redwood ascended by the first tree-sitter, Zachary Running Wolf, on Dec. 2, 2006. 

The four tree-sitters still aloft Tuesday had been confined to an ever smaller, ever higher section of the redwood, finally driven to a few remaining branches and their crow’s nest, fixed to the top of the redwood by a heavy plank. Running Wolf, who had descended months earlier, watched from the crowd, yelling in protest.  

The end came when a scaffolding contractor hired by the university surrounded the redwood with a metal framework starting at 8:37 Tuesday morning and rising, layer by layer, throughout the day as workers hammered sections into place and added prefabricated platform sections and stairway segments. 

The scaffold builders, wearing hard-hats with clear face masks, worked beneath three large fabric panels held overhead by three cherry-pickers run by university athletic department staff. 

One campus police officer said the panels were deployed to protect the workers from objects hurled by the tree-sitters. But the only objects hurled by the protesters were small objects with fishing line attached and aimed toward the crowd, perhaps in an effort to deploy heavier lines that could be used to escape from the double layer of fencing and two police lines standing between them and freedom. 

The effort failed when the line became entangled with overhead wires. 

By 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, the highest platform had reached the lowest level of branches remaining on the tree, with campus police simultaneously deploying along the median strip on Piedmont Avenue to contain the growing crowd of tree-sit supporters.  

Throughout the day campus police approached the tree-sitters from above and below. 

Campus Chief Victoria Harrison, accompanied by Assistant Chief Mitch Celaya and one or two other officers—one always recording with a video camera—took to the air in a rectangular metal basket suspended from a massive crane, attempted to talk the tree-sitters down. 

Occasionally other officers ascended in a cherry picker, pulling down supplies and belonging accumulated by the tree-sitters on their wooden platform about a dozen feet from the redwood’s crown. 

“They’ve been threatening us,” tree-sitter Huck told reporters over a cell-phone speaker late in the morning. “All we want is for the university to hold negotiations with the community” over future land-use decisions, he said. “Why should we compromise our values just because they’re threatening us?” 

The protester said the university was threatening both a forcible extraction and additional felony charges unless the tree-sitters agreed to come down peacefully. 

Throughout the day a percussive symphony of sounds accompanied the drama, spawned by the hammers of the scaffold builders, the impromptu drumming of the spectators on large cans and five gallon plastic buckets and the intrusive thrumming of the engines of news helicopters circling overhead. 

By noon, the scaffold had reached the tree-sitters’ platform itself, which was broken up and hurled to the earth to make way for a larger metal platform as the tree-sitters ascended to the final refuge. 

By 12:42 p.m. the platform had be ringed by a double railing, and a minute later the builders descended, replaced by campus police who deployed lines to link themselves to the railings as they began the final breakup of the wooden platform. 

At 12:54, the last sleeping bags were tossed over the edge, and at 1:01 p.m., the surrender began. 

“The tree-sitters agreed to come down because UC agreed to create a meaningful forum where the community can have meaningful input to UC development decisions,” announced Ayr, one of the most prominent supporters of the tree-sit. 

At 1:10 p.m., the first of the tree-sitters was on the ground, followed by a second three minutes later. 

Then the two remaining tree-sitters reversed their climb down, heading back to their perch. Finally, the third tree-sitter surrendered at 1:24 p.m., and the last, Huck, finally touched his bare feet to the earth at 1:33 p.m. 

By then, Berkeley Police had closed off the northbound lane of Piedmont, and campus police had pulled back their barricade, allowing the crowd to pour onto pavement. 

Throughout the final hours protesters had yelled at campus police, and on five occasions, officers resorted to arrests—once under a barrage of dry red dust hurled by protesters from the median strips.  

Moments after the final surrender, an impromptu assembly of musicians and drummers began to play, and a dozen or more spectators began to dance. 

University response 

Three hours later, four UC officials held a triumphant press conference in the Memorial Stadium’s Hall of Fame room. 

They spoke before a blue background screen lettered repeatedly in gold with “UC Berkeley.” 

The first order of business was a denial that the university made any concessions in exchange for the surrender. 

“There was no quid pro quo,” said university spokesperson Dan Mogulof. 

Vice Chancellor Nathan Brostrom agreed. “What was really holding us up was the lawsuit,” he said, referring to the litigation filed by the City of Berkeley, California Oak Foundation, Panoramic Hill Association and a collection of environmentalists and neighborhood activists. 

Alameda County Superior Court Judge Barbara J. Miller issued her finally ruling in the 19-month-long case on Aug. 26, ending the injunction that had barred the university from any construction activities—including tree-clearing. 

While the city declined to join the appeal, the other plaintiffs took the decision up to the Court of Appeal, also seeking an order that would reinstate the lapsed injunction. When the court rejected that move late last Thursday, the university was free to cut, and the saws fired up the next morning. 

Once most of the trees were gone, that way was cleared for Tuesday’s action. 

Harrison told reporters that, after the tree-sit began, she had contacted other police department across the country in search of techniques for handling the protest, “and quite frankly, we came up empty.” 

Harrison said the idea of using scaffolding arose “about three to four months ago,” but was impractical unless the surrounding trees were cleared, a move that couldn’t occur until the injunction had ended. 

Had the tree-sitters not surrendered when they did, Harrison said the scaffold would have continued to rise until it encompassed the entire tree. 

“That was the next step,” she said, adding that once the protesters were surrounded by the scaffolding she believed “we would be able to remove them.” 

Athletic director Sandy Barbour praised the police for their work, and said that now the tree-sitters were gone “the Student Athlete High Performance Center can become a reality,” thanks to “the passion of our fans and supporters” who will pay all the costs of a project now estimated to cost about $124 million. 

Brostrom acknowledged that legal questions remain. One issue still to be determined is just how much the university can spend on the next two planned phases of construction. 

While the way seems clear to building the four-level gym and office complex, just how much money the university can spend on the stadium itself remains in question. 

Judge Miller’s ruling indicated that the university would only be able to spend half of the building’s current market value. And considering that the gym is a sadly neglected, 85-year-old, seismically unsafe structure sitting directly over the Hayward Fault, that value could be well beneath the university’s own estimate, which is based on replacement value of a new structure built to modern earthquake codes. 

But Brostrom said that even with if the judge’s valuation prevails, the university would still be able to complete a seismic retrofit of the stadium’s western half, which overshadows the gym. 

Barbour said that while major construction work couldn’t begin until the football season ends Dec. 6, preconstruction work can begin immediately, and Mogulof told reports Monday that bid packages had gone out that day. 

Final action 

Tuesday’s final scene at the grove played out before a much smaller audience than the 400 or so who had been gathered for the final moments of the tree-sitters. 

At 4:43 p.m., a lone arborist, suspended by cable from a massive crane, had cinched a “choke” around the top of the redwood and fired up his chainsaw, A minute later, the crane was hauling off the section, laying it atop a pile of oak logs from the earlier tree-clearing.  

A second section was gone by 4:51 p.m., leaving only the massive base to cut. Once preparations were complete, the arborist was on the ground and ready to go. 

He fired up his saw at 5:15 p.m., and the last of the tree was gone, save for a small section of stump, by 5:18 p.m., its departure greeted with applause by a small audience of students who had gathered in the median. 

All that was left was a fringe of smaller trees along Piedmont Avenue. The massive oaks—including the one Native American protesters had dubbed Grandmother Oak—were gone, their branches and the smaller trunks digested by woodchippers and spewed out as mulch, and the heavier trunks piled up near the stadium and ready to haul away. 

The grove was gone, and with it a colorful chapter in Berkeley history. 

Another tree, another sit 

While Berkeley’s tree-sit is over, the University of California’s problems with tree-sitters continue. 

The day after Berkeley’s arboreal activists surrendered, supporters of another tree-sit in Santa Cruz e-mailed reporters to announce that another UC tree-sit continues. 

“After 10 months of occupying in 100-foot high redwood trees, tree-sitters at UCSC’s Science Hill are ready for students to return to school,” supporters announced. 

That protest, which began last Nov. 7, aims at protecting trees at another campus construction site, where the university plans to build a biomedical sciences facility.

Tuesday’s nine arrests—including the last four tree-sitters—cleared the ground, literally, for construction of the four-level gym and office complex that had been stalled for nearly two years by legal action. 

While UC Berkeley Police Chief Victoria Harrison’s plan to raise a scaffold to reach and, if necessary, surround the tree-sitters resulted in their surrender Tuesday afternoon, it doesn’t mean an end to the activism of those who sat in the branches and supported them on the ground below. 

Amanda Tierney, a 21-year-old activist from Iowa, was already contemplating her next campaign Sunday, the day after 40 of the designated 41 trees destined for contractor chainsaws had been felled. 

Known by her treesitter name “Dumpster Muffin,” Tierney has been one of the more high-profile figures among the protesters, and she was already contemplating her next action. 

“There’re a few different areas around the country where actions are going on,” she said. 

Activists are still battling logging companies in Humboldt County in Northern California, and other activists have rallied to protest development of I-69, a new north/south highway route activists charge is designed to “to exploit the whole population of the country” by flooding the market with low-cost goods produced south of the border. 

“There’s a key junction in Indiana, and I’m from Ohio and I’ve lived in Indiana, so I feel close to that,” she said. 

But other protests would be fine, “as long as I’m living outdoors and I have a lot of free time.” 

A high school dropout who once planned a career in journalism “so I could expose social injustices,” she now says her only regret is that she didn’t drop out sooner. 

“I’m sorry we didn’t win this one,” said Ayr, known on his campus police rap sheet as Eric Eisenberg. 

Probably the highest-profile figure among the treesit ground supporters, he was repeatedly arrested or cited by police, “and I’ve spent about seven days in jail.” 

Ayr said the treesit wasn’t his first campaign as an activist, nor will it be his last. 

His goal Sunday was “to bring about a positive and peaceful resolution” to the treesit, with “some form of positive and tangible result for the community.” 

Matthew Taylor joined the campaign about six weeks after it started, working as a participant observer both to forward the goals of the protest and to gather material for his bachelor’s thesis. 

“I’m really curious how the oak grove will be memorialized,” he said. “So many different cultural communities care about the grove, and from so many different backgrounds. 

“The question is, what will be the legacy of the grove and the treesit?” 

Taylor was arrested five times during the campaign, that last time Sunday afternoon. 

The other side 

“I’m glad this is finally over,” said one campus policeman. “My girlfriend complains that she never gets to see me.” 

But for the officer, the extra hours had a silver lining in the extensive overtime he was accumulating. 

Campus Police Chief Harrison said Tuesday afternoon that approximately 45 university police were on hand for the final day of the treesit, along with a scaffolding crew of 20 to 25 workers, 10 tree removal contract workers, City of Berkeley firefighters and paramedics and crane operators. The cherry picker lifts were operated by university athletic department staff. 

Assistant Police Chief Mitch Celaya said that in addition to the arrests of the four treesitters, who range in age between 18 and 27, police arrested five spectators. 

The treesitters were Michael Schuck, 26, known first as treesitter Fresh and later as Shem. He was charged with a variety of charges including trespass, lodging in trees, violation of court orders and for five warrants totaling $22,000. 

Armando Resendez, Mando, is 20. He faced similar charges, though not the warrant violations. Ernesto Trevino, or Droog, is the youngest treesitter at 18. His charges are similar to those lodged against Schuck, as were those filed against the last treesitter to descend, Raul Colocho, 27, otherwise known as Huck or Huckleberry. He may face one additional charge. 

All of the treesiters were taken to the Santa Rita Jail, though Celaya said that each would be eligible for release on bail. 

The five spectators arrested include two who were charged with misdemeanor battery on a peace officer. 

UC Berkeley spokesperson Dan Mogulof estimated the cost of enforcement at the grove at more than $1.5 million. 

Buyer beware! An organization’s endorsement of a candidate or measure may not be as sound as the general public thinks—and in some cases, it may not be as meaningful as the organization itself would like it to be. 

That’s the warning that organizational endorsements should carry, say former mayor Shirley Dean, again a candidate for mayor, and Sophie Hahn, running against incumbent Laurie Capitelli for Dean’s old District 5 City Council seat.  

Both contacted the Planet to express concerns about the process through which local political party clubs, interest organizations and unions make their endorsements. 

They argued that, in some cases, an organization’s endorsement is skewed by one candidate or another stacking endorsement meetings with supporters, or by an organization simply ignoring some candidates, especially non-incumbents. Some clubs ignore the issues and look at more superficial phenomena such as a candidate’s funding or campaign manager, they said, further arguing that the public isn’t aware that in some cases, only a handful of people belong to a club or show up to vote. 

And some clubs exist simply to make endorsements, but do little else, they said. 

“The whole process seems pretty rigged,” Dean told the Planet. 

When asked to comment, her opponent, incumbent Mayor Tom Bates, shot back: “Certainly Shirley has criticisms because I’m getting [endorsements] and she’s not,” he said. “It’s just that she’s not winning. She says the process is flawed. Shirley’s been around for 40 years.” 

Capitelli, on the other hand, had no quibble with his opponent on the question.  

Organizational endorsements “should be taken with a grain of salt,” he told the Planet, adding, tongue in cheek, “Sometimes I think my wife and I should form 22 clubs and then I could say, ‘Look, Laurie has 22 endorsements.’” 

Organizations don’t ignore the problems. An e-mail sent Saturday by the executive committee of the Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club to its membership—and forwarded by several members to the Planet—says, in part: “At our last meeting, we became aware that a large number of people (26) had joined our club for the sole purpose of trying to obtain our club’s nomination for certain specific candidates. This is common practice in many Democratic Clubs, particularly in those whose endorsements are seen to carry weight. However, we do not see ourselves as a traditional Democratic Party club. And we are worried about the affects [sic] such ‘stacking’ may have on our endorsement process.” 

In an interview Monday Jack Kurzweil, local politics coordinator for the club, acknowledged that at its Aug. 28 meeting—the last one before the Sept. 11 endorsement meeting, and therefore the last meeting at which new members are permitted to join—two persons came to the meeting, each with a stack of new memberships.  

“One person dropped off 18 memberships with checks and another person came with eight memberships,” he said, refusing to disclose which candidates the new memberships represented. 

While Kurzweil said the obvious attempt to influence the club’s endorsement greatly concerned him, the action didn’t break club rules and the new members would be allowed to vote.  

The e-mail to club members suggested a large turnout of core members would counteract the actions of those who wished to stack the deck.  

“We are somewhat alarmed by the idea that people who do not participate in the extensive work of the club would attend our meetings to effect [sic] the club’s nominating procedure. We have only recently become aware of this problem, and we have not yet had a discussion in the club on how to deal with it. All we can do at this stage is make sure that as many of our members as possible attend this next meeting so that our endorsements reflect the true political will of the majority of our members,” the e-mail said. 

Kurzweil said something similar happened within the club two years previously, again declining to be specific.  

The growing concerns will be addressed by the membership at a later date, he said, underscoring, “We are a democratic club, with a small d.”  

Capitelli said he thinks the Berkeley Democratic Club and Berkeley Citizens Action are both subject to manipulation. 

BCA Co-chair Linda Olivenbaum said all who vote at the BCA endorsement meetings must have joined 30 days in advance of the meeting. However, anyone who has ever been a member of the 32-year-old organization can pay dues and vote, she said. 

BDC Chair George Beier said in order to vote in that organization, one has to be a member of the club for at least 60 days before an endorsement meeting. If someone has been a member, but has not paid dues over the last two calendar years, that person can pay up at the door and vote, he said. 

Most of the other local clubs—the John George Democratic Club, the East Bay Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Democratic Club, the East Bay Young Democrats—have similar rules intended to keep people from joining a club just to get a candidate endorsed.  

“We’ve been burned before” by people stacking endorsement meetings, said Edie Irons, immediate past president of the EB Young Democrats. To prevent that from happening, not only does one have to join the club 30 days before the endorsement meeting, but the person has to have attended at least one meeting during the calendar year. As in most of the local Democratic Clubs, to get the EB Young Democrat endorsement the candidate must get 60 percent of the votes. 

One of Dean’s specific concerns is that she was snubbed by the Sierra Club. “They didn’t interview anyone,” she said. They endorsed Bates without hearing from anyone. 

John Rizzo, political chair of the San Francisco Bay chapter of the Sierra Club, acknowledged the fact. “We did an early endorsement of Tom [Mayor Tom Bates] before [Dean] got into the race,” he said. 

Sophie Hahn told the Planet she thinks the larger community doesn’t understand the endorsement process. She said she was surprised that she, who considers herself a progressive, would not get the endorsement of the John George Democratic Club, for example. 

“I think the system is highly manipulatable,” Hahn said.  

New to the local political arena—though she said she’s been a longtime actor in Democratic Party politics, even traveling for the party to conduct a caucus in Texas—Hahn said she was surprised that questions at the candidate interviews seemed to center more on the viability of a candidate. They asked more questions about the amount of money raised and who was running her campaign than about the issues, she said. 

Bates argued the opposite, saying many of his interviews were issue-oriented. For example, at the Berkeley Democratic Club, there was a 25-minute sit-down discussion with the screening committee. “They asked all kinds of questions—land use, development, and more,” he said.  

Dean noted that some of the clubs are very small. For example, the John George Democratic Club had only 18 voting members participate. Dean pointed out that when she was interviewed, there were only about 10 people present, “a couple of them from Oakland” and she was asked only three questions by those present. 

Union endorsements are also subject to controversy. Carlos Rivera, organizer for Service Employees International Union 1021, told the Planet that the union has not completed its endorsement process, but some candidates believe it has. Laurie Capitelli told the Planet that a person on the interview committee told him he had received the endorsement, and he has listed it on his website. Terry Doran, candidate for District 4, also claims SEIU 1021 endorsement on his website. 

All endorsements are not equal, said Councilmember Kriss Worthington, who also chairs the East Bay LGBT Democratic Club, noting that the Wellstone Club, of which he is also a member, has been able to bring out 200 people to an endorsement meeting, where other clubs attract many fewer people. 

Dean conceded that organizational endorsements today are no more or less valid than they were in earlier days when she was running for City Council and mayor. (She served on the council from 1975 to 1982 and as mayor from 1994-2002.) 

“It’s business as usual,” she said. Nonetheless “People do look to these things.” 

It was cloudy in Berkeley Tuesday, so a small but dedicated group of people got together at the Lutheran Church of the Christ on University Avenue to make their own sunshine. 

This citizen’s group—comprised of political advocates, lawyers, commissioners, a former Berkeley mayor and other Berkeley residents—met for the first time to unveil their own draft crafted as an alternative to the Berkeley city attorney’s draft sunshine ordinance, both of which promise more open government in the city. 

When the Berkeley City Council in April postponed the public hearing on the city attorney’s draft ordinance and granted the citizens a 90-day extension to complete their work, they spent the better part of the summer researching sunshine ordinances in San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland and exchanging hundreds of e-mails with community members—both political insiders and outsiders—who signed up through a public process. 

City officials have been working on a local sunshine ordinance since 2001, when at the request of Councilmember Kriss Worthington, the City Council asked the city manager’s office to look into improving the city’s sunshine policies, including the adoption of an ordinance. 

“Back in 1901...” began councilmember Worthington, drawing laughs from the audience and he quickly changed the year to 2001. “When I first introduced the sunshine ordinance I thought we would have half a dozen meetings and it would be very easy to get it done. Almost eight years later it still hasn’t happened. I think what I like about the draft so far is it has most of the things I proposed back then. But it has to be done as an initiative to make it really powerful.” 

The group spent two hours answering questions, explaining the ordinance and announced toward the end that it would submit a stronger draft to the City Council by October. 

Earlier this week Mayor Tom Bates postponed a sunshine ordinance workshop scheduled for Oct. 7, saying that the event had been originally scheduled with the understanding that the group would turn in a draft to city officials by July. 

He said the workshop would be rescheduled once the group submitted a formal draft to city staff, who would require a minimum of 60 days to review it. 

The general consensus at Tuesday’s meeting was that many people in Berkeley were still unaware of the importance of the sunshine ordinance. 

“If you ask any random person in Berkeley, they will tell you that the city is the epitome of democracy and that they can comment at 3,000 meetings every year,” said Worthington. “But if you ask a random person who has attended a meeting, most can tell you problems they have experienced or witnessed.” 

Several people complained about city officials’ lack of response to Public Records Act requests. 

“I attempted to get materials from the city but it was very frustrating,” said Steve Wollmer, a Berkeley resident. “Materials are hidden and often not disclosed until the input period has passed.” 

Carl Friberg, one of the lead plaintiffs in the Long Range Development Plan lawsuit between the city and UC Berkeley, emphasized the importance of a sunshine ordinance. 

“This whole lawsuit would not be in existence had there been a sunshine ordinance,” he said. “I would urge you to take this seriously and get your neighbors involved. This is a dollars and cents issue. I get bills over $100,000 showing what we owe our attorneys. That’s how important this is.” 

Terry Francke of Californians Aware, who has worked on several sunshine ordinances since 1990, starting with the first one in San Francisco, lauded the group on its work. 

“This process in Berkeley, after more than a dozen cities have followed San Francisco to have their own sunshine ordinance, is fascinating to me because it has involved the number of people it has involved and has yet to reach any level of involvement with city officials,” he said. 

Francke warned that when city governments wanted to avoid sunshine they labeled it as being too costly. 

“Look at what you are asking for here,” he said. “All those extra hours and extra work by staff. The government is not going to say too much sunshine is dangerous, but they are going to say do you realize how much this costs?” 

He added that the citizens’ draft should include the caveat that city staff was not allowed to lobby or privately brief a majority of the City Council to propose, oppose or otherwise discuss any recommendation pending or to be submitted to it, an issue he said had been recognized by then-city attorney Manuela Albuquerque who originally wrote the city’s draft. 

Worthington recommended that the ordinance include a parliamentarian who would attend City Council meetings and decide whether a person’s rights have been violated. 

“If they don’t let you talk, if they don’t give you a report, then you can’t go to the mayor because he is in the middle of a meeting,” Worthington said. “But you can go to that person.” 

Dean Metzger, a spokesperson for the informal citizens’ group, pointed out that they had included a similar provision for enforcing sunshine laws in the draft. 

“There will be a sunshine commission of nine people—elected by each councilmember and the mayor—who will hear your complaints,” he said. “One of the things we toyed with is how to pay for the commission, so we decided to use the city attorney’s budget.” 

The ordinance, Metzger said, would codify the City Council agenda and would push for shorter agendas so that the public process is “real and true.” 

“The public comment period is often limited to a certain direction,” he said. “For example, neighbors get three minutes to talk, but the project applicant often gets more. Our draft ordinance will allow equal time. Also how do you get public records? This is an attempt that the city understands that everything they do is public and that if they can’t make it public then they shouldn’t do it. Of course we respect client-attorney privileges and the privacy of juvenile delinquents, but everything else is public record.” 

When Maricruz Manzanarez isn’t mopping up at student dorms, she’s out fighting for her fellow University of California service workers across the state. 

Manzanarez’ fight is personal.  

After working full time as a UC Berkeley custodian for nine years, Manzanarez, who lives in Berkeley and is the sole support for three teenagers, takes home about $1,700 each month.  

In a phone interview Monday, Manzanarez said the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees is at the bargaining table with the university, fighting to raise the current $10 per hour starting wage to $15 per hour and to gain regular step raises for the workers. 

The bargaining unit includes gardeners, cafeteria workers, bus drivers and custodians. 

The university is offering a minimum wage of $12 per hour in the first year of the contract—an increase from $10 per hour—$12.50 per hour by the second year, and $13 by the third year, according to information emailed by university spokesperson Paul Schwartz. 

AFSCME documents say that 96 percent of the university’s service workers are so poorly paid that they are eligible for state and federal subsidies such as food stamps or low-income housing.  

Asked in a phone interview whether it is possible to survive on $13 per hour in the Bay Area, Schwartz responded, “We don’t control the cost of living in California. Our goal is to provide competitive pay.” 

He noted that the system relies on state funding and is subject to the crisis caused by the current budget stalemate. 

The increases offered “require a significant amount of resources,” Schwartz said. 

The first year’s proposed increase would cost the university $8.7 million; the second year would cost an additional $5.4 million and the third year would cost $2.5 million. 

(The cost of the new Sports Training Facility adjacent to Memorial Stadium at UC Berkeley is estimated at $125 million; the cost of the stadium retrofit is still unknown.) 

Manzanarez said the workers are also continuing to fight for a cap on their contributions toward health benefits. 

What they’re asking for won’t make UC workers rich, Manzanarez said. “I’m not talking about a vacation in Hawaii—I want a salary that will take me out of poverty.” 

In a statement e-mailed to the Planet, Schwartz said: “We continue to do what we can on our side of the negotiations to try to resolve remaining differences, but an agreement requires compromise from both sides. We believe our proposals are fair, especially in light of the current state budget crisis, and we remain hopeful that an agreement is near.” 

The two sides have been in negotiation since October 2007.

The east parking lot of the Ashby BART reopened last week for a couple of hours to give birth to a vision. 

Closed for construction for over two weeks, the site’s Woolsey and Tremont street entrance turned festive Thursday when city officials and community members gathered to break ground for the Ed Roberts Campus, which is scheduled to become a reality within 18 months. 

Described as the nation’s first universally designed transit-oriented development, the $45 million campus will serve the disability community and their families, around 300 of whom turned up to share in the excitement of the groundbreaking. 

“It’s a really amazing accomplishment, something we have always dreamed about,” said Dmitri Belzer, president of the Ed Roberts Campus. “We are breaking ground today but this is a community that has broken ground in so many things—education, healthcare and disability rights to name a few. Ed Roberts Campus will become a symbol for the disability community in the U.S. I am looking forward to the day when we move in and have access to all the different agencies.” 

The result of years of hard work by many disability organizations, the Ed Roberts Campus is a two-story, 86,057-square-foot building planned for 3075 Adeline St. It will include about a dozen nonprofits, child development and fitness centers, a cafe, braille maps and spacious elevators, complete with a spiral ramp—inspired by the one at the Guggenheim Museum in New York—winding all the way up to the second floor. 

For some disability rights advocates, the Ed Roberts Campus promises to provide a sense of community—a place where they can share a cup of coffee with friends or learn about advancements in disability policy. 

“I have been involved with the project for 10 years and it’s one of the most amazing projects in concept and execution,” said Josh Miele, who lost one of his eyes after getting severely burned as a child. “Things are going to happen in the disability community that have not happened before. It’s going to bring people from diverse backgrounds together in one place.” 

Others at the event described the campus as a model for the future. 

“Look at all the collaboration that will be possible, the synergy around disability policy and technology,” said Jan Garrett, executive director of the Center for Independent Living. “I am really excited about the ramp, it’s a beautiful piece of architecture which will also serve a very important purpose.” 

Bill Leddy of San Francisco-based Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects, the firm that designed the campus, said, “The ramp will give universal access, regardless of a person’s disability level,” he said. 

“We want people to use the building in an equitable way and avoid any kind of awkward movements,” he said. “The key element for this project was a building with a civic presence, not just an office building.” 

Former U.S. Transportation Secretary and co-author of the American Disabilities Act Norman Mineta said the project would receive attention from all over the world.  

“We will be here quite a bit when it opens,” said Cecilie Rose, a project manager with MIG Architects—the firm which designed the landscaping for the Ed Roberts Campus. “It will be the heart of the disabled community. There are always extra challenges being disabled, but this promises to be a vibrant place where we can hopefully overcome those challenges. I have been waiting for this for over a decade.”

Last week several hundred people gathered at the Ashby BART station to celebrate the groundbreaking for the planned Ed Roberts Campus. The campus will provide space under one roof for a number of organizations and facilities for people with disabilities. It will occupy the east parking lot of the station, which will be temporarily unavailable for patrons. Parking will be restored when the building is completed.  

The construction of the Ed Roberts Campus represents the culmination of a history of activism by people with disabilities. It all started in Berkeley in the sixties with the Independent Living Movement when disabled people, who had traditionally been marginalized and confined in institutions, began to demand access to the opportunities and all the rights to fully participate in society. Ed Roberts put Berkeley in the forefront of that movement, and the campus named for him will be a center for providing services and advocacy for disabled people locally, nationally and worldwide.  

In 1964 Ed Roberts enrolled at UC Berkeley. He had had polio when he was 14 and was severely disabled, requiring a respirator to breathe and a wheelchair to move around. The university had no facilities for him in the dorms so they housed him in a room in Cowell Hospital. Subsequently, other disabled students were also housed there. Keeping them isolated and treated like sick people was not the way they wanted to live. In 1969 they moved into apartments and obtained funding to hire people to provide their personal care—the program now called In Home Support Services (IHSS). Following the example of other activist groups, they formed the “Rolling Quads.” They later changed the name to the Disabled Students’ Union. 

The Disabled Students’ Union reached out in an effort to provide more opportunities for students with disabilities to participate in the social and academic life of the community. In 1972 they formed the Center for Independent Living (CIL), which became a model for independent living centers throughout the United States and the world. Run by and for people with disabilities, CIL provides a wide range of services.  

Another function of CIL has been to advocate for rights of disabled people. One of its early successes was coordination with the city of Berkeley to create curb cuts. This turned out to be a boon not only to wheelchair users but also to mothers pushing baby strollers and these days is much appreciated by people using the ubiquitous roller bags. It’s hard now to imagine what it was like for a person in a wheelchair being downtown and having to find a way to get from the street onto the sidewalk just to go into a store or the library or a movie.  

Ed Roberts’ long-time friend and colleague Joan Leon recalls, “Ed always said that we learned from the women’s movement, from the civil rights movement, (and) we learned from Saul Alinsky.”  

The Independent Living Movement grew into the Disability Rights Movement, which ultimately resulted in achieving congressional passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. 

Roberts was a charismatic and eloquent speaker and an astute politician. In 1975 then-Governor Jerry Brown appointed him director of the California Department of Rehabilitation. There was a nice irony in this since in 1961 that same agency had refused to provide services for Ed because they determined that he was too severely disabled and would never be employable. During the eight years he served in that position, he spurred the establishment of other CILs and the provision of rehabilitation services in other areas of the country. 

With the end of Brown’s term in office, Ed and his colleagues, Joan Leon and Judy Heumann, began to seek funding to establish a new organization with still broader outreach. In 1983 they founded the World Institute on Disability (WID) in Oakland. More than a think tank, WID defines itself as a “nonprofit public policy, research and training center dedicated to creating awareness and bringing about policy changes regarding how society views and treats people with disabilities.” 

In 1985 Ed Roberts received a MacArthur Foundation “genius” award. As president of WID he traveled all over the world, advocating and influencing the lives of people with disabilities. He was featured on “60 Minutes” and other news shows. He died in 1995 leaving a legacy of organizing and activism in the true Berkeley tradition.  

Roberts’ mother, Zona Roberts, reflects that “it’s gratifying after all the work that he did ... to think of the people who used to feel sorry for the ‘poor little crippled kid’ ... and he grew up and matured and learned how to do politics and (accomplish) things he really believed in.”  

His work has affected “families, the community, the city—and the world,” she said. 

The Ed Roberts Campus will bring together WID and CIL and other agencies that provide services for people with disabilities. The building will house a youth sports program, technology services, legal services and a program focused on families dealing with disabilities. The plans include meeting rooms, a fitness center and cafe, and a child development center, and more will be added as needs develop.  

The design of the building is unique, incorporating a plethora of features that make it completely accessible for people of all shapes and physical and mental abilities. Its location, right at a transit hub, is also a significant advantage.  

In the words of Joan Leon, “There’s no organization like it in the world.”

Councilmember Kriss Worthington and Mayor Tom Bates clashed Monday afternoon at an obscure but powerful city committee meeting over an appointment to a county commission. 

The question before the Agenda Committee, which generally meets eight days before every council meeting to decide what items will be brought to council, was the appointment to the Alameda County Waste Management Authority, which coordinates efforts for waste reduction, recycling and composting within the county. 

Dona Spring, the councilmember who died in July, had served on the authority. Worthington is the alternate and was expected to be named to the seat.  

A recommendation by Bates to appoint Councilmember Gordon Wozniak to the Waste Management Authority, however, was among the items before the committee, as part of the agenda proposed for the council meeting of Sept. 16. 

Bates chairs the Agenda Committee. Wozniak and Councilmember Linda Maio are members. 

The Agenda Committee meetings are always noticed as City Council meetings so that councilmembers who are not members of the committee can participate in discussions. Only committee members vote, however. Worthington came to the session to plead his case, arguing that he should be allowed to complete the work he began, substituting for the deceased councilmember. 

While under the City Charter the mayor’s power is little more than that of a councilmember, he is able to make appointments to committees, subject to council approval.  

Bates told Worthington he wasn’t prepared to alter his recommendation. “You can raise it at the [Sept. 16 City Council] meeting,” Bates said. 

Worthington then asked if he could add wording to the item, giving the council the option to vote for either him or Wozniak. Bates declined, but checked with the city attorney. 

“It’s your item,” responded City Attorney Zach Cowan, giving the mayor the green light to turn down Worthington’s request.  

In a phone interview after the meeting, Worthington said he thought he should be appointed to the post, since he had not only worked in the position since Spring’s death and earlier as the alternate, but was the councilmember who brought items to the council on zero waste, biodiesel and the precautionary principle.  

The council resolution on the precautionary principle says, “Where threats of serious or irreversible damage to people or nature exist, lack of full scientific certainty about cause and effect shall not be viewed as sufficient reason for the city to postpone measures to prevent the degradation of the environment or protect human health.”  

In fact, Worthington said, “Gordon Wozniak is the principal opponent of the precautionary principle. To replace me with the most outspoken opponent is outrageous.” 

In a separate interview, Wozniak responded to the charges, saying that Worthington was making a “holier than thou” argument.  

Wozniak said he has worked with sororities, fraternities and the student co-ops on recycling programs and had an intern in his office that worked specifically on that issue. 

He said he voted for the precautionary principle resolution but had worked to temper it because he didn’t want it to “be carried to the extreme, so that one is afraid of stepping on an ant.” 

He added that “some people want to use it as a weapon against innovation.” 

In an interview after the meeting, the Planet asked Bates why he chose Wozniak.  

“Kriss is on the committee now—I thought Gordon should have an opportunity to serve. He’s retired and has the time,” Bates said, adding that Wozniak is “interested in recycling.” 

Worthington, who does not work outside his council position, said he will bring his qualifications to the full council on Sept. 16 and thought others in the community would do so as well.

While a statement on the proposed library and fire tax in the annual city report that goes to every Berkeley citizen is phrased in such a way that some have said it could read like a promotion for the measures, Deputy City Manager Lisa Caronna told the Daily Planet it is not. 

Rather, she said, the report simply informs the citizenry of the existence of the measures and does not take a stand on them. 

The 2008 Annual Report says the two measures “give residents the option of providing funding for important community services.” 

Caronna said the operative word in the report is “option,” indicating that citizens can choose to vote for the measures or not. 

Although the council voted to put both tax measures on the ballot, it is not permitted to spend taxpayer dollars campaigning for them. 

For the library bond, the report states, “The improvements will address serious structural and infrastructure needs, alleviate overcrowded conditions and improve library operations and the ability to serve the public better.” 

“I don’t believe any city funds can be used to promote a measure,” attorney and former City Councilmember Don Jelinek told the Planet. However, he said, taking a “wild guess, I think this just barely makes it” on the side of legality. 

Caronna said much of the wording on the ballot measures in the report comes from the city attorney’s analysis of the measures, intended to explain but not promote them. 

The short article in the annual report does not give the cost of the measures: the fire protection tax will cost the homeowner about four cents per square foot. A 2,000-square-foot home would cost a homeowner about $80 per year.  

The library tax is based on the assessed value of a home: for a home whose assessed value is $350,000, the homeowner would be taxed $59 the first year after bonds are issued (since there will be several payments in that year); subsequent payments will be reduced to a maximum of $27 per year for the 30-year life of the bond, according to city spokesperson Mary Kay Clunies-Ross. 

The cost to design, print and mail the annual report to some 60,000 residents was about $24,300, Clunies-Ross said.

Protesters—including Free Speech Movement veterans and a Berkeley city councilmember—gathered in Sproul Plaza Sept. 4 to rally against the UC Berkeley police raid on the Long Haul the week before. 

Campus police, accompanied by an FBI agent and at least one Alameda County Sheriff’s deputy, raided the collective at 3124 Shattuck Ave. and seized every computer and data-storage device in the building in a search for what Assistant UCPD Chief Mitch Celaya called threatening e-mails. 

“This was an illegal search and confiscation,” said Berkeley councilmember Kriss Worthington. “It’s pretty amazing that the UC Police Department can continually do things that are so stupid.” 

“In 1964, I spoke on top of a police car here,” said attorney Anne Fagan Ginger, referring to that memorable day when Free Speech Movement activists surrounded a car that contained one of their own who had been arrested moments before. 

Ginger said the action against the Long Haul was of a piece with other university actions, including the continued presence at the law school of former Bush administration advisor John Yoo, whom Ginger described as a war criminal. Yoo provided the legal justification for the treatment of prisoners seized in Iraq and other places, in a program that some have compared to the Night and Fog renditions by the Nazis during World War II. 

Another name from the 1960s was also present. Michael Tank has come to town as an organizer for the newly revitalized Students for a Democratic Society. Al Haber, the first president of the original SDS, was the founder of the Long Haul, and Tank helped organize the SDS chapter in Los Angeles, the first in the state in nearly four decades. 

“We need to change this university so that it serves the needs of the students, not the needs of those in power,” he said. 

SDS members protested increased fees during the UC Board of Regents meeting May 14, leading to the arrests of 16 who temporarily shut down the session with chants of “Regents, regents, can’t you see? You’re creating poverty!” 

Tank said he will begin organizing a local chapter in the near future. 

Some of the speakers were well known to the half-dozen or so campus police officers who kept a close eye on the rally from the shade of the student union building. Many of the activists who have been supporting the tree-sitters at Memorial Stadium were on hand, including Zachary Running Wolf, the first of the tree-sitters and now a write-in candidate for mayor. 

Ayr, the coordinator of ground support for the tree-sitters, served as emcee for Thursday’s rally, introducing the speakers. 

The Long Haul serves as a gathering spot for a number of radical and anarchist groups, ranging from Bread Not Bombs and the East Bay Prisoner Support to the radical quarterly Slingshot. In addition, the building housed a computer room that provided unrestricted online access to anyone who sat down before a keyboard and screen. 

“It was the only space that offered free and unlimited access that I know of in this town,” said Ayr, who lead the crowd in a chant: “U-C-P-D, give us our computers back!” 

Another face from the past was Michael Delacour, one of the founders of People’s Park, the long-contested piece of university-owned land that remains a bone of contention struggled over by campus administrators and local activists. 

Delacour described the raid at the Long Haul as emblematic of a new wave of repression “that scares the living shit out of all of us” and reminded him of the worst days of the Red Scare of the 1950s. 

But the protest also brought a new set of younger faces, many of them adorned with piercings and tattoo ink and clad in chrome-studs and black. These were the anarchists who frequent the Long Haul and offer a cosmopolitan contrast to the tie-dyed and often be-sandaled set who have been supporting the tree-sitters.

At least 11 schools in the Berkeley Unified School District met their Academic Performance Index targets for 2008 according to the state’s 2007-08 Accountability Progress Report (APR) released by State Superintendent Jack O’Connell last week. 

The APR provides results from California’s Academic Performance Index (API) as well as the federal Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) and Program Improvement (PI). Both the API and AYP are based upon the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program and the California High School Exit Exam. 

According to data posted on the state Department of Education website, four other Berkeley public schools saw their API scores rise but did not meet the target. 

State data show that Berkeley Unified received an API score of 760, up 14 points from its 2007 Base API score of 746, showing that the district was progressing toward the target of 800. 

The Base API is calculated using the results from spring 2007 testing. The API is a numeric index which ranges from 200 to 1,000 with a statewide target of 800. 

“The new district writing program had an effect on the API, and the new science program made a difference as well,” said Berkeley schools Superintendent Bill Huyett. 

Cragmont (API 842), Washington (API 783) and Rosa Parks (API 759) elementary schools made gains in their API scores. 

“If you consider that the API went down five points the previous year (2006-07), the gain of 45 points last year (2007-08) constitutes a 50-point turnaround, and every subgroup went up significantly,” said Don Vu, principal at Cragmont during 2007-08, who is now with the Berryessa school district. “I think that we did a much better job monitoring students who were struggling. We also made intervention classes after school smaller—five to seven students per teacher. More than half of the teachers worked in the after-school classes because the class sizes were so small and, in many cases, they were able to work with their own students.” 

Willard (API 745) and Longfellow Arts and Technology (API 783) middle schools saw a gain of 24 and 39 points, respectively, in 2007-08 compared to the five-point growth target required of them by the state. 

Martin Luther King Middle School (API 780) gained two points in the same time frame and fell below its five-point growth target. 

According to information on the state Department of Education website, Berkeley High School did not get an API score since it failed to test a significant proportion of students who were not exempt from testing in 2008 for at least one 2008 STAR content area. 

About 53 percent of the state’s schools made their API growth targets based on 2008 data, an increase of 8 percentage points from 2007. As a result, 36 percent of California schools are at or above the target of 800, up 5 percentage points from the year before. 

“I am particularly pleased that this year's API results show some narrowing of the achievement gap between students who are white or Asian and their peers who are African American, Hispanic, or learning the English language,” O’Connell said. “Because the API gives schools more credit for improvement made by the lowest-achieving students, it encourages educators to focus on improving the achievement of students who struggle the most.” 

African American students state-wide increased their API this year by 14 points and Hispanic students increased by 17 points, while white students increased by 10 points and English-learner students increased by 14 points. 

O’Connell told reporters during a teleconference Thursday morning that although the results showed a positive trend in overall performance, the state still faced a hurdle in closing the achievement gap. 

AYP results 

Results show that 52 percent of schools made AYP in 2008, a 15-percentage point decrease from 2007. 

The federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 requires that the state determine whether each public school and LEA (a school district or county office of education) is making AYP. 

Berkeley Unified did not meet AYP criteria for 2008 since it failed to have enough members in some of its student subgroups who were considered proficient in English-language arts or mathematics. 

Robert Bernstein from the California Department of Education said the Berkeley district had failed five different subgroups in English and two in math. 

“Overall, the proficiency level is great but there’s a huge difference between white students and their African American counterparts,” he said. 

The AYP target for the percentage of students expected to score proficient or above on state assessments increased nearly 11 percentage points from 2007 and will continue to rise each year to meet the federal requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act. In 2007 the state standard for performance was 24 percent, which increased to 35 percent this year. In 2009 it will be 45 percent. 

State educators said that fewer schools and LEAs made AYP in 2008 because of the increase in targets. The percent of LEAs making AYP decreased from 54 percent in 2007 to 39 percent in 2008. 

Under No Child Left Behind, each state defines what it considers to be proficient levels in English-language arts and math, and California—state Department of Education officials said—is known for having some of the most rigorous standards in the nation. 

Huyett said the district’s overall AYP score had gone up but added that the increase in the state’s proficiency levels was a big problem. 

“Originally we were in for participation but this year we are in for performance,” he said. “The state standard for performance went up dramatically and it will continue to rise steadily each year until 2014, when all students will be required to score at the proficient level in English and math.” 

Berkeley Unified School District is in its third year of Program Improvement status. 

According to the state Department of Education, schools, school districts, and county offices of education that receive federal Title I funds and do not make AYP criteria for two consecutive years are identified for PI. Schools in PI are subject to a five-year timeline of intervention activities. 

Huyett said the district would be reviewing its curriculum and submitting a performance improvement plan to the state. 

“We have already adopted a new math program and are well on our way to develop a language arts program which we hope will make a difference,” he said. 

To view individual school’s API and AYP scores visit: www.cde.ca.gov/ta/ac/ap/index. asp.

The 2007-08 California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) results released on Tuesday by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Jack O’Connell, show that the estimated passing rates for all first-time test takers in the Berkeley Unified School District are lower than the state rate in math and slightly higher in English. 

All California public school students are required to pass both sections of the CAHSEE to graduate from high school and must take it for the first time in tenth-grade. 

Students who fail to pass the test as tenth graders can take the test twice in 11th grade and if they continue to be unsuccessful, then they get five more opportunities as seniors. 

Students who do not pass both the English language and math portions of the exit exam by the end of their senior year can continue to take the exam until they meet both requirements. 

More than 493,000 sophomores statewide took the CAHSEE during the 2007-08 school year.  

According to data posted on the state Department of Education website, 772 sophomores in the class of 2010 at Berkeley Unified School District tested in math during the period from July 2007 to May 2008, out of which 578 (75 percent) passed. 

The state reported that 779 Berkeley tenth-graders tested in English Language Arts during the same time frame, out of which 623 (80 percent) met the CAHSEE requirement. 

“The students will have several opportunities to pass the test,” said Berkeley Board of Education President John Selawsky. “Most will pass by the time they are 12th-graders. There’s a lot of emphasis at the state level on the exit exam. It’s important for kids to take it seriously since they don’t get their diploma until they pass it.” 

The data from the state’s website also show that 753 sophomores only from Berkeley High School tested in math from July 2007 to May 2008, out of which 570 (76 percent) met the CAHSEE requirement. 

The state reported that 756 Berkeley High sophomores tested in English language during the same time frame, out of which 610 (81 percent) passed the test. 

Calls to Berkeley High principal Jim Slemp were not returned by press time. 

At Berkeley Technology Academy, 18 sophomores tested in math from July 2007 to May 2008, out of which eight (44 percent) passed the test. And 22 tenth graders tested in English language, out of which 13 (59 percent) met the CAHSEE requirements. 

B-Tech principal Victor Diaz said there has been a greater emphasis on taking the test more seriously since he took over as principal. 

“Students have started preparing for it more rigorously,” he said, adding that the school’s Academic Performance Index went up by 158 points this year. 

“It’s unquestionable that we have tripled the number of kids that are taking the test and are passing the test by the time they get to 12th grade. The older they are the more seriously they take it.” 

The estimated passing rates in English language for all first-time test takers in the California public schools in 2008 show some improvement—77.1 percent to 78.8 percent—a 1.7 percentage point increase over the past three years.  

In the math portion of the exit exam over this same period for first-time test takers, the estimated passing rate improved from 75.5 percent (when students in the Class of 2008 were sophomores) to 78.3 percent. 

Also, this year special education students who were previously granted an exemption from the exit exam were required to take and pass the CAHSEE for the first time. Nearly 54 percent of students enrolled in special education services in the class of 2008 met the CAHSEE requirement as of May 2008.  

“The California High School Exit Exam system is pushing our schools to ensure that more students who have disabilities are given maximum access to the general education curriculum and is pushing more students to reach for a higher bar of achievement,” O’Connell said. “The exit exam requirement ensures that all students who earn a diploma have important basic skills that will help them succeed in the workforce.” 

Data from the state’s website show that 67 sophomores with special education needs at Berkeley High School tested in math, out of which 15 (22 percent) met the CAHSEE requirement. 

Sixty-eight special education tenth-graders at the high school tested in English language in the same time period, out of which 21 (31 percent) passed. 

The estimated percentage of students in the class of 2008 who met the CAHSEE requirement statewide as of May 2008 was 90.2 percent. 

O’Connell announced Tuesday at a teleconference that the CAHSEE results underscored the need to work on closing the racial achievement gap. 

“I am pleased to see a slight narrowing of the gap among first-time test takers, but closing this gap entirely is the civil rights challenge of our time,” he said. “It is a moral imperative and an economic imperative for our students and for our state economy ... We still have a long road ahead of us.” 

To view CAHSEE results by school, district or county, visit cahsee.cde.ca.gov.

Mary Lou Wyatt Stern was born on May 16, 1932, in North Wilkesboro, Wilkes County, North Carolina. Her father was killed in an auto accident when she was 1. Her mother died from a heart attack when Mary Lou was 10. She had a mean stepfather and was shunted between relatives and a loving grandmother. While finishing high school, she cleaned people’s homes, worked the night shift at a hospital, and did various odd jobs. Still, she often reminisced about freshly picked green beans and potatoes from her grandmother’s garden. The memory of these flavors and tastes remained with her for the rest of her life.  

When she graduated as valedictorian from high school at age 15, she received a $30 prize. That night she went to the bus station and left for Bristol, TN, as far as the money would take her. She worked in Bristol as a waitress and in a hospital. When she had saved enough, she moved to Richmond where she got a job at the phone company, and also modeled at Montaldos, an upscale department store. In Richmond, she met Jules Pagano, who was to become her husband, at the phone company where he was a union organizer. Eventually they moved to Washington, D.C., where she continued to work for the phone company until she was hired as a stewardess by American Airlines.  

Notable achievements there were: her refusal to shake Richard Nixon’s hand (she was rebuked for this, but replied it is always the lady that presents her hand first) and being chosen to fly with Adlai Stevenson’s campaign plane. In 1956 she and Jules got separate Fulbright grants to study labor issues in England, where Mary Lou was exposed to many new ideas and people. This experience had a profound impact on her. Upon her return to Washington she worked for the National Cotton Council, the democratic study group, and the National Rural Electrification Council.  

We met in 1958 when I moved to Washington to take a job with the Voice of America. The first week there, I was invited to a party hosted by a Turkish poet who also worked at the Voice. We went to my apartment that night and have been together ever since. We were married on May 24, 1959, in Baltimore by the only rabbi we could find in the area who would marry a Catholic and a Jew (both non-practicing). We continued working in our respective jobs, until we were both hired to work for Howard K. Smith at ABC News. When that broadcast folded, we took our savings and drove 10,000 miles to Mexico and back in our used 1956 Porsche. She loved that car and was a great driver.  

On our return we both found work at PBS, then a brand new organization. We worked on many broadcasts together, but Mary Lou eventually was fired because we had shared a hotel room (Essex House) on a trip to New York. Later we moved to New York City where she developed an interior design business. We had begun the process of trying to adopt in Washington, but the agencies had rules against mixed marriages, and they gave Mary Lou a particularly hard time because she had not gone to college. For example, she once was asked by an adoption social worker if she would be capable of joining a conversation with my colleagues. Luckily, we found an adoption lawyer in San Francisco and Alexandra Minna Stern entered our lives on May 3, 1966.  

Coincidentally we moved to the Bay Area in 1969 when I was offered a job at the university. Once established in Berkeley, Mary Lou balanced family responsibilities and a variety of interesting careers, including interior design for diverse clients and becoming the proprietor of a lovely store, Wyatt & Duncan, located for many years in Walnut Square. Mary Lou quickly became an integral member of the community and made many life-long friends. She spent 20 years as a leader of PACT (Parents and Community Together), a community organization that helped parents whose children had drug problems. She provided counsel that was tactful, practical, and sensitive to many families, was instrumental in obtaining community grants to further PACT’s work, and served as a dynamic spokeswoman for the group. During this period she earned an associate degree in drug and alcohol counseling and received a Jefferson Award from KRON-TV to recognize her community service. 

In more recent years the garden became Mary Lou’s most cherished project, and she collaborated on its design and flora with her dear friends, Anne Simpson and Barbara Davison. Mary Lou was a renowned cook with a versatile repertoire and insatiable appetite for learning new recipes and cuisines. She maintained a vast library of cookbooks and enjoyed trying new dishes and flavors in her travels to places as varied as Cambodia, India, Kenya, France, and Chile. Mary Lou is survived by husband Andrew A. Stern; daughter Alexandra M. Stern and her partner Terri Koreck; and granddaughter Sofia Maria Stern.

The administration of Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums says it is close to completion of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreement with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, establishing a state-city partnership to revitalize close to 500 blocks of Oakland’s most depressed neighborhoods. 

Dellums announced the proposed MOU agreement, which has been in the works for several months, at a standing-room-only Tuesday night Brotherhood Bible study meeting in downtown Oakland. At the meeting, a regular weekly event sponsored by Oakland’s Word Assembly Baptist Church specifically for ex-offenders, Dellums was honored for his administration’s efforts in establishing re-entry programs in the city for formerly incarcerated individuals. 

Dellums has made the attraction of outside resources—including state aid—a centerpiece of his Model Cities program to rebuild Oakland. 

Dellums released few details of the proposed revitalization MOU on Tuesday night, except to say that in part it may involve agreements by the California Department of Transportation to set aside jobs specifically for Oakland ex-offenders. In past discussions, administration officials have said that the proposed project will not involve direct grants of state money, but will include an intense, targeted influx of state aid and programs. 

The Oakland revitalization program will be modeled, in part, on Neighborhoods@Work, a $25 million public-private partnership between the City of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Urban League to revitalize a 70-block area surrounding Crenshaw High School in East L.A.  

A December 2007 Los Angeles Sentinel story on the unveiling of the Los Angeles program said it would involve a simultaneous partnership between several agencies besides the City of Los Angeles and the Urban League—including the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office, the Los Angeles Unified School District, the Los Angeles Police Department, the offices of several state legislators, and the University of Southern California—to provide a simultaneous, focused initiative in the targeted community in the areas of education, public safety, employment, health and housing. 

In the past, Dellums has said that California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger had been considering instituting small model state-city partnership programs similar to Neighborhoods@Work in several cities around the state.  

The mayor said that he had been arguing with the Schwarzenegger administration that such an effort would be diluted and ineffective, but that combining all of the state’s attention and resources in the program into one city—which Dellums strenuously argued should be Oakland—would reap benefits that could draw in private money and resources and could then be replicated in other areas.

The leader of Oakland’s Nation of Islam mosque has charged that few of the 54 individuals arrested in the City of Oakland’s much-publicized June “Operation Nutcracker” raid targeting West Oakland’s Acorn Gang have actually been charged with serious crimes, and that the raid itself endangered many of the Acorn Project residents it was supposed to protect. 

Minister Keith Muhammad of Oakland Mosque 26B is calling the June 17 raids and arrests “a heavy-handed use of force” and is criticizing charges by California Attorney General Jerry Brown and Oakland police officials that the individuals arrested were “urban terrorists.” 

“We’re worried that what is being set up is the eventual development of an American Guantanamo where citizens can be incarcerated for long periods of time without charges,” Muhammad said in a KPFA radio interview last week, adding that the raids may be part of a drive to clear West Oakland neighborhoods of poor and African American residents so that developers can come in to build high-priced residential communities. 

Muhammad is a respected member of Oakland’s African-American faith community, and was one of the ministers in attendance at the recent funeral services for the mother of Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums. Mosque 26B is not affiliated with North Oakland’s Your Black Muslim Bakery, but is an affiliate of Minister Louis Farrakhan’s Nation of Islam.  

Last June, Oakland police officials reported a massive raid on West Oakland’s Acorn project that netted 34 arrests and the seizure of at least nine firearms, large amounts of cocaine and marijuana, and more than $10,000 in cash. More than 400 Oakland police officers and law enforcements officers from several other local, state, and federal agencies participated in the raids. In addition, 20 more suspects were arrested during Operation Nutcracker prior to the June 17 raid.  

Police have said that Acorn Gang members dealt drugs in the neighborhood surrounding their Acorn Project headquarters, and had been responsible for numerous shootings and killings stemming from an ongoing three-way West Oakland/North Oakland gang war. OPD Homicide Lt. Ersie Joyner called the Acorn Gang “the most violent gang I’ve ever seen” in 17 years of police work. 

An Oakland Tribune article on the OPD press conference reported that “Joyner said because of the large number of arrests, police believe they have dismantled the gang’s infrastructure enough to make it difficult for members to regroup.”  

But two and a half months after the June raids, Muhammad says that only five or six individuals have been charged with serious crimes, and “most of the 54 individuals arrested have been released without charges at all.” Muhammad says that does not fit the official OPD position that the raid resulted in the breaking up of a violent street gang. 

The Berkeley Daily Planet has not been able to confirm Muhammad’s charges about the numbers of Operation Nutcracker arrestees released or the total list of the types of crimes they were charged with.  

Earlier this month, the Oakland Police Department denied the Daily Planet’s public records request for the arrest records of the 54 Operation Nutcracker arrestees on several grounds, including the fact that release of the information “may endanger the successful completion of any current or prospective investigation, or may disclose investigative techniques.” 

In response to a second request for a list of the 54 arrestees and the charges against them, the Oakland Police Department provided redacted arrest records for only eight of the 54 arrested individuals, saying that the public records request “was not specific enough” to identify the remaining records. 

Of the eight Operation Nutcracker arrest records provided, one—33-year-old Mark Anthony Candler—was for homicide, with several more for illegal firearms possession, possession of controlled substances for sale, and violation of the California Street Terrorism Enforcement and Prevention Act. The rest of the charges of the eight arrestees were for lesser crimes, including forgery, parole violation, and contempt of court for violation of a court order. 

Meanwhile, Muhammad says that he has met with residents of the Acorn Project, who have told him that they felt terrorized by the police raid itself, which included more than 400 officers. 

“Among the things they talked of were armored personnel carriers, snipers, and concussion grenades thrown into homes,” Muhammad said in his KPFA radio interview. “Some 30 homes had forced entry. We feel the raid could easily have resulted in a bloodbath of the innocent as well as those who were accused.” 

A month earlier, Muhammad told members of the Oakland City Council at an open forum that he had talked with residents of the Acorn Project including “grandmothers whose doors were kicked in” and “parents who had grenades blow up in their homes with burns in the carpets. You’re just blessed that none of the babies was burned.” 

Muhammad said that the language of Attorney General Brown, who called the Acorn Gang members “urban terrorists,” was “incendiary and dangerous,” and did not think it reflected the feelings of Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums.  

“Neither Mayor Dellums nor his staff members were present at the press conference” where Brown made the statement, Muhammad said. “Mayor Dellums is an old 1960s advocate for the poor. I’m certain that he is not pleased with the way the attorney general is characterizing our community.”

Safeway will hold a series of public meetings starting this week at Oakland’s Claremont Middle School in an effort to come up with a different design for remodeling its College Avenue store. 

The first of six meetings was held Wednesday. The next will be Sept. 22. 

The national grocery chain put together a group who will participate in discussions about the new plans after local merchants and neighbors vociferously opposed the corporation’s proposal to expand the less-than-25,000-square-foot 1960s-era grocery store by three times.  

About 300 people packed the Peralta Elementary School in June to hear Safeway’s plans, and more than 70 people spoke in opposition, expressing fear that “big box” development would ruin the quiet ambiance of the corner at Claremont and College avenues. 

Others viewed the project as a threat to existing businesses, saying that what Safeway calls a “lifestyle” store, with a bakery, pharmacy and bigger meat and produce sections, would destroy the essence of the neighborhood.  

Safeway’s real estate developer, Todd Paradis, pointed out that the existing Safeway lacked a number of important departments, including a full-service meat counter, an extensive organic produce section and a flower shop. 

According to an e-mail sent out by Elisabeth Jewel of Aroner, Jewel & Ellis Partners—the consultants, whose primary partners include former Assemblymember Dion Aroner, hired by Safeway for community outreach about the expansion projects—the members of the “stakeholders’ working group” have agreed to meet regularly to share their “expertise, perspective and opinions in creating a new store.” 

The e-mail stated that the meeting would be facilitated with “the goal of discovering common ground and consensus on hard issues such as the size, scale, and design of a new store and possibly ground floor retail space.” 

The meetings will be open to the public and minutes will be posted on www.safewayoncollege.com. 

Pamela Hopkins, managing partner of the Berkeley-based ENACT Global Consulting business, will facilitate the meetings of the stakeholders’ group—made up of representatives from the Rockridge Community Planning Council, the Claremont Elmwood Neighborhood Association, the Rockridge District Association, Concerned Neighbors of College Avenue Safeway, College Avenue merchants who have stores right across the street from Safeway and neighbors whose properties abut Safeway. Safeway representatives will also be participating. 

Susan Shawl and Nancy McKay of Concerned Neighbors, the group formed to oppose Safeway’s expansion plans, said they hoped the process would result in something positive. 

“We would like Safeway to modify its plan to be in line with what the neighbors want. We are hoping for a major renovation of the existing store instead of a 75,000-square-foot development,” she said. “Every question would be answered if they did a major renovation rather than expand.” 

Shawl added that some of the stakeholders would like to negotiate the meeting dates proposed by Safeway. 

“They [Safeway] set up the schedule without talking to anyone,” she said. “Some of the meetings are on Mondays and some on Wednesdays and some allow only nine days in-between, which leaves us no time to report back to the members in our organization.” 

Safeway was scheduled to submit an application for the proposed project to the Oakland Planning Department at the end of July, but postponed its plans in order to address community concerns. 

Calls to Safeway’s spokesperson Esperanza Greenwood were not returned by the paper’s deadline. 

Meeting dates: Sept. 22, Oct. 1, 13 and 22, and Nov. 3, 7-9 p.m. at the Claremont Middle School, 5750 College Ave., Oakland. Parking is available on the playground off of Miles Avenue.

It’s been an unpleasant few days around here. All weekend long, and for two days later the ominous drone of circling helicopters was heard at our house, as if we were in a war zone. University of California in its majesty was administering the coup de grace to the hapless romantics perched atop the skeleton of the lone redwood which temporarily survived the assault of the Monarch of the West. 

Neighbors called wondering if they’d missed some major catastrophe. The Planet heard from many readers vainly hoping we’d know what was going on and how to stop it. 

Friends who lived here during the culture wars of the 1960s say this was nothing. Then it was troops and tear gas. Now the ugly face the University of California presents to the world is just rent-a-cops, chain-saws, chain-link fences and feeling-your-pain flackery. But to mix a couple of metaphors now floating through the zeitgeist, you can put lipstick on a pit bull, but it’s still a pit bull. 

Everywhere we went, we heard people mourning the death of the old oaks, even at Shotgun’s Ubu for President show.  

The characters in the play were all too familiar to Berkeleyans.  

There was a cocky king, sure that he could do no wrong. See Monarch of the West, above.  

There was a peace-and-love sweetie, uncomfortably reminiscent of the appealing naiveté of protesters past and present who believed that throwing their bodies on the machine would produce anything but a pile of chopped liver at the end of the encounter. 

A pair of self-satisfied vulgarians who farted their way through the afternoon onstage looked a lot like the rude and noisy football fans who park on our block on Saturdays in the fall. 

It should have been a funny show, but the woman sitting next to us said “I just can’t laugh, I keep thinking about the trees.” 

The helicopters so many complained about were deployed by the news media—the university made do with cherry-pickers. The Planet opted not to use our corporate helicopter out of consideration for the people of Berkeley, relying instead on cell phone reports from our ace reporter on the scene, posted on the web as they came in. 

I watched the whole drama on Tuesday on my computer at my desk at home, streamed live by Channel 7. Though ABC’s e-mailers complained about the helicopter noise, the coverage was spectacular, an enthralling yet horrifying sight for someone like me who suffers from vicarious acrophobia (fear of watching other people high-up). I had to admire the derring-do of the last young men in their tiny basket atop the tree at the end, though I hoped they’d come down before they fell to certain death.  

How did students react? Jane Brody in Tuesday’s Times reported studies linking student alcohol abuse to athletics: “Although Greek houses, which have the highest rates of binge drinking, are infamous for a free-flowing alcohol culture, studies have found that student athletes and sports fans are also among the heaviest drinkers, often gathering to drink to oblivion after an athletic event.”  

A woman who lives just south of the campus confirms this theory. Last weekend the student parties in her neighborhood were especially loud and especially drunken, which she attributes to overheard enthusiasm among sports fans about the defeat of the oaks protesters coupled with a football triumph. A neighbor found a sleeping student drunk on her front porch at 7 a.m. on Sunday. 

Thus ends another chapter on the road to ignominy of my alma mater. I know, I know, as a former governor once said, seen one tree, ya’ve seen ‘em all. Just a little patch of landscaping gone from a once-lovely campus now nearly covered by concrete. Nothing more than 200 years old, at the outside, and what’s 200 years to High Performance Student Athletes and their devotees? 

Not that UC’s hands have ever been clean. People’s Park was worse. The recent contract selling off a big chunk of UC’s research effort to British Petroleum is even more shameful than cutting down one oak grove, though less dramatic. 

Old-timers remember that when Memorial Stadium was built, after World War I, there were warnings that it was smack dab on top of the Hayward Fault, but the university chose to ignore them. Conservationists and nature lovers also complained then that the location did significant damage to what had been one of the most beautiful parts of the Berkeley hills. The name itself is an early instance of the still-current practice of wrapping a bad idea in the flag of patriotism to make it sell.  

There’s a lot more to come. The oak grove was just the canary in the coal mine. The next stage of UC’s expansion plan is to destroy much more of Strawberry Canyon in order to feed the BP maw. Football’s fun, but corporate research is serious money.  

For the patriotic twist, how about the energy crisis? End our dependence on foreign oil! (The British aren’t really foreigners now, are they?) 

Non-liberal-arts majors took offense at my previous use of a German word, liebensraum, to describe the university’s rapacious desire for territorial expansion, just because Hitler had previously used it. But my excellent education at what we used to call Cal taught me another fine word for the school’s behavior: hubris. Wikipedia’s definition nails it: “Hubris ...is a term used in modern English to indicate overweening pride, self-confidence, superciliousness, or arrogance, often resulting in fatal retribution. In ancient Greece, hubris referred to actions which, intentionally or not, shamed and humiliated the victim, and frequently the perpetrator as well. It was most evident in the public and private actions of the powerful and rich.”  

The worst recent example of powerful, rich UC Berkeley’s hubris hasn’t gotten enough attention in the MSM. That’s the raid on the Long Haul office by UC’s much-too-powerful police force, when all the computers on the premises were seized by UC cops. But while I was watching Channel 7 on Tuesday I happened on an excellent story (http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local&id=6378316) about the Long Haul raid by reporter Heather Ishimaru. The station obtained the court document which purported to authorize the search, a warrant signed by a judge reciting the supposed probable cause that evidence of crime would be found. ABC7 legal consultant Dean Johnson says on camera that based on his reading of the document, he was shocked that the judge granted a search warrant.  

“The heart of this affidavit is just sheer speculation,” Johnson says. 

E-mails threatening UC animal researchers had been traced to the bank of public access computers provided free as Long Haul’s Infoshop, but anyone can come in and use those computers—no records are kept. There’s no excuse for raiding the whole building, where many groups have offices, and seizing every last computer and hard drive on the premises. As one of our letter writers pointed out, would they seize all the computers in all of UC’s libraries if someone wrote a scary e-mail on one of them? 

The researchers are certainly justified in being afraid of some on the crazy fringe of the animal rights movement. My niece’s best friend in her Santa Cruz preschool lives in a house that they firebombed—inexcusable, especially when kids are involved.  

But there’s no reason to violate the civil rights of everyone in and around Long Haul. When ABC’s legal eagle points out that the affidavit supported the search warrant should have stated “probable cause,” what that means is that the judge should have required UC’s police to explain why they believed taking possession of the public terminals would tell anyone anything about who sent the threatening message. Anyone familiar with the way Long Haul operates its computer room would know that’s just not possible. 

As compared to the Berkeley police, who had no part in the action, UC’s police look, once again, like careless cowboys, poorly trained and famously insensitive to civil liberties. There’s no reason that law-abiding citizens of Berkeley who have nothing to do with the university should be subjected to random raids by UC’s minions, just because we happen to live in their company town.  

On Sept. 11, we all have reason to remember that real threats can too easily be distorted by unscrupulous government agencies to become excuses for seizing unwarranted power. If Long Haul isn’t safe, we’re all at risk. 

• 

BHA FLOUTING THE LAW? 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Why is Tia Ingram of the Berkeley Housing Authority flouting the sunshine or transparency laws by refusing to post exactly how the BHA figures the often inflated rents for Section 8 tenants? And why does City Attorney Zach Cowan, the Berkeley Housing Advisory Commission and the Section 8 committee of the Rent Stabilization Board put up with it? This flouting of the law is what caused the probationary status of the BHA in the first place; the threatened lawsuit, the special HUD investigation, the forced resignation of top BHA staff, and the shake-up of Berkeley commissions which helped force out of office the previous city attorney.  

John L. Butler 

Berkeley Citizens for Fair Housing  

• 

THE VICTORY 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

It is never glorious, never a victory, when great trees fall. But although the tree-sitters failed to preserve the grove, all of us—and I include those offering "free firewood" to passers-by—owe something big to them. They accomplished what a decade of Freedom of Information Act requests could not have done. They have brought before the eyes of a star-struck public a key part of the nature of the Yoo-niversity in the hills. Now we know it better for what it is: how close to the surface, and how near to hand, are the interrogation lights, the helicopters, the paranoia- and fear-tactics, the food-deprivation, the spying, the surveillance, the double-crossing, the press-office psy-ops. 

All necessary knowledge for those of us who care about the Bay Area, because working for its good in the future will often enough mean going up against the big Yoo. 

Even if you didn't like the tree-sitters' looks or personal deportment, think of them as a P.I.A.—"People's Intelligence Agency." 

Juan F. García 

• 

BRAVE TREE-SITTERS 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I want to thank the brave tree-sitters from the bottom of my heart for risking their lives so that the oak grove might live. Let us hope that the animals who lost their habitat in the grove somehow manage to find new homes.  

Harriet Jones  

• 

NEW SEWER LINES 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Congratulations to Berkeley's public works efforts to give the city new sewer pipes. Not exactly a glitzy project, but basic and necessary to keep the fluids moving underground. The team of workers on our block were efficient, professional, friendly, and diligent. It was a pleasure to watch them do the job. And they did their job extremely well—the temporarily torn up sidewalk 

blocks and the openings in the street were all smoothed over and neat when the work was over. Good job done by all. 

Joan Levinson 

• 

UNIVERSITY ETHICS 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Years ago I took a law course for non-lawyers at Berkeley. About all I remember from it was the claim that if something was legal, it was prima facie ethical. Recently, the university required all its employees to take an on-line ethics training course. The course covered the responsibilities and the rights of employees. An employee cannot charge non project-related work to a project account. An employee has the right to be recompensed for any job-related work that they perform. My supervisors saw no contradiction in stating that I should bill the time required to complete the ethics course to whatever project account I currently had access to.  

Free speech, or perhaps just tenure, trumps outrage. John Yoo appears to be in no danger of losing his job. Memorial Stadium was built in honor of the veterans of World War I. Many people have expressed anguish at the removal of the oak grove by the stadium, but the university claims it has the legal right to do so. Compassion, and respect for others, are not a legal, and by implication, ethical requirement. 

Presumably no one will be surprised that the university is urging its alumni to sign up for updates on university issues so that they can lobby their legislators. Ethics is money.  

Robert Clear 

• 

TRUTH ABOUT PALIN BOOK BAN RUMORS 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

In your letters to the editor for Sept. 8, you have one entitled "Sarah Palin and Censorship" by Ralph Stone, who rambles on about the alleged demands by Sarah Palin that the library remove certain books, and then asks the question why this isn't being brought up in the media. The simple answer to that question is because it never happened! 

A quick search for Palin and library on snopes.com produces the following results: www.snopes.com/politics/palin/bannedbooks.asp. 

It is also important to realize that the list being circulated include numerous books that had not even been published at the time this alleged attempt at book banning took place. 

Please, when evaluating letters to publish, be sure to check what is being presented as being factually correct rather than more nuttiness for Berkeley's moonbats. 

Todd C. Hansen 

Northfield, Minnesota 

• 

OAKLAND’S MEASURE N 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Why are Oakland teachers voting no on Measure N when it could provide for a pay raise? 

a. Measure N includes charter school tax of 1.8 million for next 10 years. 

b. Elected Oakland School Board voted 6 to 1 to reject flawed Measure N. 

c. State Superintendent O’Connell used his State take-over power to force Measure N on the ballot. 

d. Jack O'Connell was awarded charter schools supporter of the year for 2008. 

e. Homeowners in today’s economy can ill afford $120 addition parcel tax for 10 years. 

f. All of the above 

Answer: f 

Jim Mordecai 

Oakland teacher 

• 

O’MALLEY VS. PALIN REVISITED 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Comments contained in the last paragraph of my recent letter to the Daily Planet were less than objective, indefensible, purely reactionary, simply irrational, inappropriate, a grievous error in judgment...and just a wee bit satirical, though I wouldn't claim to match the New Yorker's skill at rendering satire after their July 21 cover depicting the Obama's in the Oval Office. 

In choosing to publish my letter, Mrs. O'Malley aptly demonstrates her open-mindedness and underscores the need for the Berkeley Daily Planet to remain as a beacon of truth regardless of the outcome of this election. 

Becky, what makes you think America won't need you more than ever after Sarah Palin becomes your next VP? Stay here venerable editor, stand and fight for your American ideals, there's nothing to do in Canada, and Venezuela is already a lost cause. 

Brian Gabel 

Oakland  

• 

BERKELEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

What's going on with Berkeley Unified School District? Why are they not able to keep their science teachers? Four of our elementary schools in Berkeley are without science teachers for their fourth and fifth graders. The four schools; Le Conte, Emerson, Berkeley Arts Magnet, and Washington are doing a disservice to their fourth and fifth graders, which will manifest in lower test scores on the science portion of their STAR tests this coming spring. 

We live in one of the most science rich communities in the nation, and Berkeley Unified is obligated to provide our students with teachers (not subs) in schools who are qualified and experienced in teaching this subject. Because science (and math) are the most difficult positions to be filled, the district has an additional responsibility to retain these specialized teachers and to value them as they do classroom teachers. 

Why is Berkeley Unified not working harder to keep science teachers? Is the superintendent even aware of the situation? Does he just hand it off to Human Resources? Who is in charge of making the district a desirable employer to work for? 

Science is a comprehensive and specific curriculum that is just as important as math and English. If our district, which can so proudly laud it's ability to offer our schools curriculum in non-academics such as cooking, gardening, music and dance (as well as organic food) then why oh why can't they figure out how to keep their science teachers? I notice that there are no district vacancies for cooking and gardening instructors, but three for science. 

Are parents of fourth and fifth graders at Le Conte, Washington, Berkeley Arts Magnet, and Emerson upset about this situation? Do they find this acceptable? Let's let the superintendent and the school board know of our displeasure about this and receive some answers. The district serves the public as well as our children. I'm sending this letter to the school board as well. Students at four schools have already missed two weeks of science. Would we remain complacent if it were two weeks of math or English? 

Joseph Davis 

• 

MISLEADING STATEMENTS FROM BRT SUPPORTERS 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Charles Siegel's Sept. 11 commentary "False Claims in Anti-Transit Initiative Ballot Argument" is extremely misleading. He claims that Bus Rapid Transit will achieve significant reductions in greenhouse gases, presumably by saving the 690 gallons of gasoline per day hoped for by AC Transit. How can 690 gallons per day, for a $400 million cost, possibly be considered significant? The same $400 million could be used as $4,000 rebates to encourage 100,000 motorists to turn in their gas-guzzlers and buy a fuel-efficient car. That could save upwards of 100,000 gallons of gasoline every day, 150 times as much as BRT. I challenge Mr. Siegel to explain how BRT's greenhouse gas reductions can be significant, when they are less than 1 percent of the savings that might be achieved by using the same $400 million for fuel efficiency rebates. And maybe he can explain the statement by AC Transit spokesman Clarence Johnson that even the 690 gallon estimate may be completely unrealistic: "If we put this dedicated lane in and people continue to drive, then the opponents are probably right. It will lead to more pollution." 

Mr. Siegel also claims that the average bus trip will be 15 to 30 percent faster with BRT. But AC Transit's heavily used 51 bus, which runs on College Avenue, will be stuck in the same BRT-induced gridlock as the cars and trucks on College. Anyone who rides the 51 will see the service get a lot worse. And if the 51 takes twice as long to crawl through traffic after BRT is constructed, each 51 bus will only be able to make half the number of trips as they do now. So people will have to wait twice as long for a 51 bus to even show up. During that longer wait, twice as many riders will have accumulated and there won't be space on the 51 to hold everyone. Maybe Mr. Siegel can explain to the riders of the 51 why their service will be sacrificed as part of BRT. 

Finally, counter to Mr. Siegel's claims, I do understand that Measure KK would apply to "every street in Berkeley". I think that is wonderful. If Measure KK passes, no one who lives in Berkeley will ever have to waste their time defending their neighborhood against a carpetbagger like AC Transit again. The people of Berkeley will be empowered to select the kind of real improvements in public transit that we need, instead of being forced to accept AC Transit's useless and dangerous pet project. Vote yes on Measure KK in November! 

Russ Tilleman 

• 

CORRECTING THE GERMAN 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

In her Sept. 11 editorial, Becky O'Malley wrote, "Non-liberal-arts majors took offense at my previous use of a German word, liebensraum, to describe the university's rapacious desire for territorial expansion, just because Hitler had previously used it." 

Had Hitler been motivated by a desire for Liebensraum, there would have been no World War II and no Holocaust. Had the University of California practiced the policy of Liebensraum, the Memorial Stadium oak grove would still be standing. 

Unlike Lebensraum (living space), Liebensraum means "loving space." (And unlike English nouns, German nouns still take initial capitals.) 

Daniella Thompson 

• 

LOVING AND LIVING 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

As a liberal arts major myself, I nonetheless take strong exception to Professor O’Malley’s injudicious attempt to equate the university’s land grab of the oak grove with Hitlerian expansionism by evoking the term, “liebensraum” [sic]. If there were such a word in German (which there isn’t), it might mean something like “room to love” or maybe “love room.” That sounds more like a Summer of Love term than something we might associate with Nazi Germany. Unless you take seriously Norman Mailer’s deeply demented last novel, The Castle in the Forest, it seems doubtful that a kinky concept like “liebensraum” has much to do with Hitler or his supposedly incestuous origins. I suppose the German word, Liebe, or “love” could be compounded into a more sinister form. For example, fans of Stanley Kubrick’s classic Dr. Strangelove may recall a whispered scene in which we learn that the “Kraut,” Dr. Strangelove, formerly worked for the Nazis as a weapon’s expert under his original name, “Dr. Merkwürdigliebe.” 

Perhaps the German word-phrase, Professor O’Malley was looking for here was “Lebensraum”? I guess her “excellent education at what we used to call Cal” did not sufficiently distinguish between “liebensraum” and “Lebensraum” or that fact that in German, all nouns, “proper” or otherwise, are customarily capitalized (at least in German orthography). 

But this apparent confusion of Professor O’Malley while trying to appear worldly and learned (unlike that rube Palin?), points to a larger credibility gap in the Planet’s so-called news coverage. For example, the front page of the Sept. 11 issue includes a breathless profile and interview with one of the oak grove heroes, “Dumpster Muffin,” who is described as a “21-year-old activist from Iowa,” but only a few paragraphs below she is quoted as saying, “I’m from Ohio...” So which is it? Iowa or Ohio? Or did we somehow get our geography confused like some parochial small town rube from Alaska might? Based on a careful reading of the Planet for several years, it would seem that all too often the reports are filled with misstatements, inaccuracies and confusion (not to mention typos) and the attributed quotes filled with outright lies which no one bothers to fact check or verify. So, in a nutshell, you have the Planet: A series of inaccurate or false statements immediately contradicted by a (lying?) quotation all within the same paragraph or two! In truth, Berkeley fully deserves the newspaper it now has which accurately reflects both its hubris and dementia. 

Edna Spector 

• 

LOW-FLOW TOILETS 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

People who read Matt Cantor's article on toilets might be interested to know that if they replace an older (3.5 gallons per flush) toilet with a qualifying "High-Efficiency Toilet" (1.28 gallons per flush) they can get a $150 rebate from EBMUD. 

Michael Babcock 

• 

LeCONTE API GROWTH OVERLOOKED 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

In her Sept. 11 article “District, State Show Growth in API Scores,” Riya Bhattacharjee neglected to mention another Berkeley elementary school that saw dramatic growth in 2008: LeConte. LeConte’s API improved 55 points from 2007 to 2008. Among the district's eleven elementary schools, only Washington made more growth—68 points.  

LeConte made some big changes last year, restructuring our fourth and fifth grade program to build a more collaborative professional learning community and, like the rest of the district, focusing heavily on our writing instruction. We are proud of the results we are seeing, and we are disappointed to be overlooked by the Berkeley Daily Planet. 

Jen Corn 

Fourth grade teacher and literacy coach 

LeConte Elementary 

• 

TOTLAND EQUIPMENT 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

On Tuesday, Jan. 22, my son and I requested (here) a "baby changing table" at the Totland playground. I would like to thank whoever organized it's facilitation—it sure makes life easier. 

Phil and Fionn Rowntree 

• 

SOLUTION TO BRT CONTROVERSY 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

The solution to the Bus Rapid Transit controversy is not just to forget about BRT, but to forget about "fixed-route" mass transit completely. 

Read the information at www.taxibus.org.uk and be enlightened. Simply put, it looks like this to the consumer: you call and give your destination to the central computer. 

Within three minutes, a 12-passenger minibus, such as a Dodge Sprinter high van, will pick you up, and take you to your destination, picking up and dropping off passengers efficiently as it goes, the driver instructed by a little Garmin-style computer which turns to take, and the system run from a central computer. Drivers would drive smaller vehicles, and buses wouldn't roar through your neighborhood with one passenger. 

That's it. In order to work efficiently, it needs 10 taxibuses per square mile. It would remove half the vehicle traffic in a dense city such as San Francisco or Oakland, even Berkeley, speeding up its own travel to where it would be faster, if finding parking were included, than driving your own personal car. Weather would not matter, video surveillance and recorded routes and passenger ID would provide security, pollution from vehicles decreased. 

Break out of the argument about which fixed route behemoth Van Hools should take. They shouldn't even exist. What you want to do is go from one place to another on demand. Taxibuses are a far better solution to that problem. 

Ormond Otvos 

Richmond 

• 

NO ON PROPOSITION 8 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I am writing to encourage your readers to vote no on Proposition 8. The freedom to marry is a fundamental individual right and should be guaranteed in our society. I want to secure the right to marry not only because I am a gay man in a committed relationship but—more fundamentally—because I am a citizen committed to human rights for all. We will never truly be a great nation until we recognize the basic right for each person to be treated fairly and to have the opportunity to live the fullest life possible. Discrimination against same-sex couples is discrimination—bias any way it is cut. We must protect the right to marry for every citizen and know that in doing so we help this nation reach its greatest potential. 

John Frazier 

Oakland 

OAK GROVE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I have but one word for you, your reporters, Ayr, Dumpster Muffin, Doug Buckwald and all the other crazies who have tormented my alma mater for the past year and a half: TIMBERRRRRRRRRRR! 

Jeff Ogar 

• 

DESTRUCTION OF  

THE GROVE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Chancellor Birgeneau brings shame upon himself and the University of California at Berkeley by supporting the decision to destroy the Memorial Stadium oak grove, planted to honor California soldiers who died in World War I, in order to in order to build an athletic building in the wrong place. To order the destruction of these magnificent trees when our planet needs more trees, not fewer, is unconscionable. And Chancellor Birgeneau makes himself responsible for the harm that will come to students and staff when the predicted earthquake breaks the surface on the Hayward Fault beneath Memorial Stadium and the new athletic facility. 

It is terrible to see this once-great state institution of higher learning subverted to serve athletics and business and technology and profits instead of the education and intellectual growth of young Californians. 

Charlene M. Woodcock 

• 

LANDSCAPING 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

The trees in front of the stadium were not a memorial to World War I veterans. The stadium is a memorial to them. The trees were landscaping planted after the stadium was built. 

Ed Buck 

• 

VENUS FLY TRAP 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

The university seldom permits science to get in the way when the opportunity to make big money beckons.  

Several decades ago, against the advice of Dr. John Gofman and others, it conducted extraordinarily reckless radiological experiments that have bequeathed to us all cancers. Regents, scientists, and engineers got rich on literally trillions of dollars squandered on the nuclear arms race, and the rest of us were left holding the oncological bomb they made. 

Now the university is compounding the original sin of building a stadium in one of the most dangerous places in California against the advice of eminent geologists such as Dr. Garniss Curtis. I presume that the Regents and administrators have limited liability so that when the inevitable catastrophe occurs, it will be us—the people of California—who will have to pay for their folly.  

I, for one, will never step into that Venus flytrap of a stadium. 

Gray Brechin 

• 

PERSPECTIVE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

It is important to keep the last 20 months in perspective. Let us not forget, the Bay area and especially the city of Berkeley are the foundation of the environmental movement in America. Berkeley is also the bastion of freedom of speech. The synergism of free speech and the environmental causes are core to the philosophy of this unique city. Let us not forget David Brower, a pioneer of the environmental movement and native of Berkeley, who embraced wilderness, preservation, and closeness to earth. It is important we keep this heritage, and it is important that we chose are battles well. There are many battles within our planet, including the loss of rainforest, the melting of the arctic ice cap, drilling in ANWAR, the rapid loss of the Amazon rainforest, the loss of primates, and more immediate, the imminent loss of the last remaining temperate rainforest on earth, the Tsongas wilderness of southeast Alaska. Although I understand the dedication of those who wanted to preserve the UC Berkeley oak grove, I suggest we take the energy of this great city, including those individuals of the past and present and unite to fight the big battles. Time is short. 

Edward Brennan 

• 

BIASED ORDER AGAINST ROY 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Alameda County Superior Court Judge Frank Roesch should have recused himself from hearing the ridiculous case against the ballot statement of AC Transit Board challenger Joyce Roy. At the hearing he admitted that he is also a friend of incumbent Chris Peeples and the so-called independent resident (William Rowan) who brought the complaint against Roy for calling spades what they are. If purchasing buses from a Belgian company—instead of buying them from U.S. bus manufacturers—does not effectively send jobs overseas, I don’t know what does. AC Transit requested bids in such a way that only one manufacturer fit the specs—effectively a no-bid process. Since the Van Hools went online, I’ve met only one AC Transit driver who said he likes them. (I usually ask, because I’d like them to vanish.) I don’t think Roy’s statements were out of line, and this lawsuit sounds like a cabal to me. (And an act of desperation.) Peeples can’t seem to get it through his head that many AC Transit riders loathe these buses, and that as a board member he should be looking out for the agency’s financial health and the health of its riders. The Van Hool buses are detrimental to both. 

Joan Lichterman 

Oakland 

• 

RICHMOND CASINO ACCORD 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Our sincerest gratitude to your newspaper, and to the excellent reporter Richard Brenneman, for the continued quality coverage of the lawlessness in Richmond. 

Citizens for East Shore Parks successfully sued the City of Richmond for the second time in the past couple of years because Richmond continues to break the rules. The public has a basic right to know the impacts of a project before signing off on it. The majority on the Richmond Council has trampled that right the last two times gambling money has been promised. 

Congratulations also to Contra Costa Superior Court Judge Barbara Zuniga, who saw through the self-serving arguments of the casino proponents and ruled that the city had to do an environmental impact study before considering the casino project. 

Our environmental protections are essential for the 12 species along our East Bay Shoreline whose existence is threatened and who rely on the bay for survival; and for the residents of the East Bay who rely on the bay for recreation, sustenance and renewal. The continued loss of species and habitat on our small planet ought to be reason enough to protect the environment. Failing that, cities should at least abide by the law. 

Robert C. Cheasty 

President, Citizens for East Shore Parks 

• 

NOT ON ANY SLATE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

To correct Zelda Bronstein’s Sept. 4 Public Eye column: I am not running for re-election as AC Transit director for Ward 2 as part of any slate. I have not even endorsed either Chris Peeples or Joyce Roy. 

Greg Harper 

• 

SUNSHINE ORDINANCE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

The only candidate who is running for mayor who has pushed for an extremely strong version of the Sunshine Ordinance is Zachary Running Wolf. 

Before you write off Wolf as a radical or extremist, note that he has the strongest platform of any mayoral candidate and is by far the most green as he does not own a car and bikes everywhere. 

Do you want more people that are just tools of the university? 

Or do you want a man who will stand up for the needs of the people?! 

John Samos 

• 

MAYORAL RACE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

To John Samos, who announced that Zachary Running Wolf is the only man worthy to be elected mayor: The fact that you don’t even know that Running Wolf isn’t running; that he couldn’t even get 20 signatures in support of his entering the race and was thus disqualified (I guess none of those tree sitter people are Berkeley citizens); or that his website for mayor has already been closed down—shows what kind of voter you are. And the fact that you support him shows what kind of candidate Running Wolf is. 

Bruce Coughlin 

• 

BUS RAPID TRANSIT  

MAKES NO SENSE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

If I were in downtown Berkeley and wanted to travel to San Leandro, I could take a normal bus, which takes about 90 minutes or the faster 1R, arriving in about 75 minutes. I could hop on BART and be there in 32 minutes. I could also drive, arriving in 25-35 minutes depending on traffic. BRT wants us to pay another couple hundred million to be able to arrive by bus in 60 minutes. I fail to see the huge advantage in this. Yes, when I ride the bus, I prefer to go faster. But lopping off 20 minutes from an 80-minute commute is not worth $450 million, especially when I can carpool, drive or take BART and get there in half that time. None of the other BRT positives (surface connectedness, decreased emissions) and negatives (Telegraph lanes) really matter because these numbers are so abysmal. It’s laughable that this proposal is even considered for funding—we must be quite wealthy. 

Furthermore, I am offended when planners/supporters mention as their BRT goal “forcing drivers out of their cars” as has been said numerous times in this paper. The goal ought to be congestion reduction and transportation improvement, not behavioral modification. If people need to drive, let them make their own choices as to whether it’s best for them rather than assessing their situation from a distance and determining that they shouldn’t be driving. Doing so is elitist and condescending—no one likes other people’s beliefs imposed upon them, even if in the name of environmentalism. 

Damian Bickett 

• 

BUS RAPID TRANSIT 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Damian Bickett’s letter against Bus Rapid Transit misses several points at once.  

He correctly claims that BART is faster than BRT for the journey all the way from downtown Berkeley to San Leandro. He dubiously claims that he “could” also drive there faster than riding the bus (ignoring the extra time needed for parking his car at both ends). However, he is comparing apples to oranges: BART stations in the East Bay are an average of 2.4 miles apart and serve regional needs. The 1 and 1R bus stops on Telegraph and International Boulevard are one-quarter and one-half miles apart and the combined route serves local, shorter-distance transit needs rather than end-to-end journeys. If BART were truly a better alternative for that corridor, then the 1/1R route would not be AC Transit’s busiest—which it is. 

While we all would “prefer to go faster” on the bus, that’s not actually what is most effective in attracting and keeping new riders. What works best is when schedules are more reliable and trips therefore more predictable—exactly what BRT provides by keeping its buses out of most stop-and-go traffic. The increase in speed only reinforces the primary benefit of dependable travel time—far more dependable than Mr. Bickett would experience fighting variable traffic on the same route.  

Mr. Bickett also has his facts wrong on the project cost. The three-city BRT project is now projected to cost $257 million, not the $450 million he cites. AC Transit has figured out how to re-use much of the existing street paving rather than replacing it, which both lowers the cost and makes the construction a lot greener. 

Finally, the “forcing people out of their cars” language doesn’t come from BRT proponents—it’s only what the anti-BRT people emotionally imagine we transit proponents are saying (but never have). We surely don’t need any more such sticks-and-stones misquotes in this already too-emotional debate. 

Alan Tobey 

• 

SARAH PALIN AND CENSORSHIP 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Regrettably, we hear very little in the media about vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s attempt at censorship when she was mayor of Wasilla, Alaska. Why? Maybe the public doesn’t want to be confused or embarrassed by unsavory facts in light of Palin’s speech at the Republican Convention. To me, her attempt at censorship is alarming, especially for a vice presidential candidate. Censorship violates the First Amendment, a fundamental principle of a democracy. Just what happened? 

Back in 1996, when she first became mayor of Wasilla, Sarah Palin asked Mary Ellen Emmons, the city librarian, three times—one time in an open City Council meeting—about possibly removing objectionable books from the library if the need arose. Emmons flatly refused to consider any kind of censorship. Emmons then got a letter from Palin asking for her resignation. She refused. Palin later said the letter was just a test of loyalty. Palin fired Emmons, but was forced to rescind her action after Wasilla residents made a strong show of support. 

This incident was widely reported in the Alaska press at the time. Therefore, John McCain or his staff knew or should have known about the incident. Yet, McCain still selected her as his running mate. I, therefore, conclude that he approves of Palin’s attempts at censorship or more likely, decided for political reasons to ignore the incident. He needed Palin to solidify support of the Republican’s right wing base.  

We already have an administration that has been accused of suppressing or censoring information that goes against their political and religious leanings. I for one do not want another leader of questionable character leading our nation. This is not “change;” this is more of the same. 

Ralph E. Stone 

San Francisco 

• 

PALIN EDITORIAL 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I take issue with Becky O’Malley’s editorial about feminists and Sarah Palin. While I disagree with Palin’s positions on just about all the critical issues, and I feel McCain’s choice of her as a vice presidential candidate shows his poor judgment, I don’t think feminists can properly criticize Palin for not staying home to raise her young children.  

The basic tenet of feminism, as I see it, is that women and men should have equal opportunities. Parents of either gender are responsible to make sure that their children are well cared for, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the mother must stay at home to do the job. Fathers, aunts, uncles, grandparents, other relatives, friends, and professional child care workers can, and often do, fulfill the bulk of child rearing responsibilities in many families to the benefit of the children they care for. Some women are particularly good at childcare; so are some men; and some of both genders are less suited to this role by temperament, experience, age, and other factors. In my own family, I was more ambitious about my career and received more satisfaction from it than my husband did from his, and before we had children we often bantered that he’d be a better father than I would a mother. In the late 1960s, when our children were 1 and 3 years old, through a series of circumstances we decided to make the switch, unusual at that time: I would be the primary breadwinner and he the primary child raiser. My children benefited enormously from having a stay-at-home dad.  

Now many more families choose that way of life, and it pleases me greatly to see wider acceptance of fathers and male caregivers at playgrounds, preschools, and parent-participation events at elementary schools. 

Let’s not take a step backward from the feminist impetus to give greater choice of family roles to both genders just because we dislike a particular female politician who has chosen to have others handle the bulk of care for her children while she pursues her career. Unless we demand the same from men, chiding Sarah Palin on this issue is an anti-feminist stance. 

Zipporah Colllins 

• 

S/MOTHERING 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I was surprised to hear Becky O’Malley sounding so old-world conventional. So much has been put onto parents they’ve become largely insufferable. They’ve certainly been irritating their children beyond measure, to the point the children have been behaving crazed. They don’t have time unsupervised except in rare cases—you know, time to just be on their own meandering in the neighborhoods and to places where friends gather and figure out games to play and places to explore. 

I realize our living has become more threatening these last 50-60 years than when I was so new. But parents and teachers need to back off. Parents being able to be part of the community working outside the home is a good thing—if the job is good, which it too often isn’t—but that’s another issue. 

Meanwhile, the endless list of how unbelievably abhorrent are our candidates wrongly calls her to mother her children. It’ll get done—too much. 

Norma J F Harrison 

• 

CLARITY 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I read Becky O’Malley’s editorial this morning on Sarah Palin. As a Republican who is pro-life and certainly not aligned with much of feminist thinking, I must say I approached the editorial with more than a little skepticism. However, I am writing to let O’Malley know that what she wrote is one of the finest pieces I have read on Sarah Palin. She expressed so well most of my thoughts on this lady, and I intend to send it to several of my friends who are on the conservative end of the political spectrum. 

Perhaps, this round of candidates is causing many “thinking” conservatives and liberals to realize they are not that far apart. One thing I would like to see is an article of the same depth and critical analysis applied to Hillary Clinton. She is someone else that if you look behind her rhetoric there is a woman with limited character and integrity. I have been surprised that so many Democrats have been as blind to her problems as the Republicans are with Sarah Palin. Maybe both parties have people wearing the same brand of rose colored glasses. 

Keep up the fine thinking and clarity of writing. It is so needed today. 

Sam Shafer  

• 

TO WOMEN DEMOCRATS 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Please stand up to the Republican attempt to define feminism in the discussion of vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. She is anti-abortion, anti-gay, anti-gun control, anti-environmental protection, and anti-science. In addition her ethics are dubious, despite her self-characterization as a reformer. Those positions aren’t part of any feminism I recognize. Feminist values are inclusive, egalitarian, serious about social welfare and environmental stewardship, rational, fair, and never demeaning of others. 

Sarah Palin is a brilliant political weapon: discriminatory, regressive policies in a palatable, mediagenic package, with a demonstrated ability to get off a zinger with the best of them. Not only do cultural conservatives love her, she appears to be seducing moderate undecided voters. 

On the first Wednesday in September, the Republicans sent out a phalanx of women to loudly decry the sexism of attacks on Palin. The extent to which Palin’s family life is a prism for her policy positions and therefore is fair game for scrutiny is debatable, but the crying of sexist foul was aimed at seizing the discourse, stifling debate, and throwing up a smokescreen to divert attention from what Palin has done in office and would do as vice president. It was a calculated tactic used by the Republican leadership, and they won’t hesitate to use that weapon again. 

Shrill, righteous indignation isn’t the style of liberal Democrats, but please quickly, forcefully, and publicly counter these attacks. Don’t let them redefine feminism. We need a strike force of women Democratic leaders to fight the smears and misinformation. Please show the country at this critical moment what true experience and leadership in office—and true feminism—look like. 

Rebecca Freed 

• 

RIGHTWING NIGHTMARE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Well, by the lord livin’ Jesus, hasn’t Sen. McCain picked a sure-nuff winner. Good God almighty, just listen to her talkin’ ‘bout not killin’ babys, and not raisin’ taxes for folks who made their money the hard way, and keepin’ America safe by havin’ a firearm in every home, and supportin’ our heroic troops in eyerak, and makin’ good, clean fun of that colored fellow who seems to have hyponotised us by his fancy speechifying, etc. etc. She is for everythang that God bless America stands for! And McCain picked a sure-nuff winner. Good God almighty, just listen to her talkin’ ‘bout not killin’ babys, and not raisin’ taxes for folks who made their money the hard way, and keepin’ America safe by havin’ a firearm in every home, and supportin’ our heroic troops in eyerak, and makin’ good, clean fun of that colored fellow who seems to have hyponotised us by his fancy speechifying, etc. etc. She is for everythang that God bless America stands for! And when McCain has his heart attack and she takes over, watch out America; those of half of us who didn’t vote will finally get what we deserve. Ms Palin is the rightwing nightmare of our budding century. 

Robert Blau 

• 

PITBULLS AND LIPSTICK 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Repeatedly, consistently the media now defines Sarah Palin as a “self-described hockey mom.” No one needs an MD degree to recognize the description as an emblematic media deceit. But in her next sentence Palin defined “hockey mom” as a “pit bull with lipstick.” The media avoids repeating the harsher descriptive innuendo. How many soccer and hockey moms across the United States think of themselves as pit bulls—outside of the political clique that Palin represents? The cross over in her logic from “genteel to aggressive” is demagoguery. How many soccer/hockey moms across the United States would have the temerity and arrogance to walk away from a mayor’s job in a very small town they had put $20 million in debt to run up the ladder of political power? Or to try and fire a town librarian for refusing the mayor’s request to remove certain books, or the head of the state police for refusing to fire someone singled out by the governor? Most soccer/hockey moms would care more about the welfare of their community than to behave like that. The media—lazy and cost-driven—can choose to let Palin succeed or fail by her own words but if so how can they avoid including “pit bull” as part of “hockey mom” without becoming a mouthpiece for McCain-Palin?  

Marc Sapir 

• 

O’MALLEY VS. PALIN 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

It is easy to understand why progressive feminists are in a tizzy over the presence of Sarah Palin on the political scene. On many levels and for many reasons that are probably best left unexpressed, these women are seriously challenged, not by Palin herself, but by the light her presence casts on their choices, values, and viewpoints. Under the circumstances, a loss of objectivity might be expected and that statements made by some of these women will be indefensible and purely reactionary. But this is America, everyone is free to say just about whatever they want to and it’s of the utmost importance that they do so. 

Mrs. O’Malley is an American who is fortunate enough to have a newspaper with her own editorial page. Do you think that makes her more or less free to say just about whatever she wants to on that page? In her recent scathing review of Palin, O’Malley aptly demonstrates the kind of thinking that is typical of her faction and serves only to drive independent and undecided voters away from the Democratic Party. For example, she suggests that because of Alaska’s oil wealth and small population, it should be easier to balance the budget there, than in a real state like California. What!? Alaska isn’t a real state? Her central idea may be correct but the statement of that idea is simply irrational and a person need not be from Alaska to take exception to it. She then continues with inappropriate attacks on Palin’s innocent children, making fun of their unusual names and personal choices. But perhaps her most grievous error in judgment comes with her closing statement wherein she suggests that if McCain and Palin are elected, she and her ilk might have to consider moving to Canada! 

Becky, what makes you think you’d be any happier or better-adjusted living in Canada? Go south old woman; you might find Venezuela more to your liking. Please take the Berkeley Daily Planet with you and rename it the Bolivar Daily Planet. Godspeed, there’s no need to wait until Sarah Palin becomes your next VP. 

Brian Gabel 

Oakland 

• 

WIN GOES TO PALIN 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

There are at least two distressing observations to be made regarding the recent conventions. First of all, we should realize that by using most of his standard-issue acceptance speech to demonize McCain and by presenting a lackluster biographical film that seemed anxious to stress his affection for elderly white ladies, Obama has withdrawn from contention the history-making, charismatic, race-transcending visionary who promoted himself as the vehicle of our faith and hopes. He reduced himself to simply being the guy we have to vote for in order to stop the out-of-touch John McCain. The second painful observation is that in meeting Obama’s low-experience, high-personality, history-making challenge, the Republicans have radically re-shaped the election race and tossed out traditional political reality. The contest is now effectively between Barack Obama and Sarah Palin, who has given all sorts of voters something to vote for. She’ll deliver many more votes than previous Vice Presidential candidates. If I had to guess the winner, I’d have to say that barring any catastrophic revelations about the Palins, the election is effectively over. The winner? Sarah Palin and the other person with her on the ticket. When did this win take place? A few seconds after Sarah Palin started talking in front of the RNC television cameras that presented her to 40 million spectators. 

Richard Pruitt 

Oakland 

• 

OAKLAND CRIME 

AND VIOLENCE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

J.Douglas Allen-Taylor has asked us two questions (Aug. 28). First, “What is the nature and what are the causes of Oakland’s crime and violence?” Drugs, hopelessness, lack of employment, boredom, desperation, anger, racism. 

His second question: “What is the program for a solution, both immediate and in the long term?” Decriminalize drugs, use the wasted millions for healing rather than ineffective punishment; bring the incarcerated non-violent parents home! Create jobs, education, counseling, medical services, recreation. Establish venues for artists, musicians, writers, etc., instead of shutting them down! Most of all, try respect—has anyone consulted the Oakland youth? 

Gerta Farber 

• 

WALKING ON ROOFS 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Mr. Cantor’s article was a full of good tips for walking/working on roofs. What I don’t understand is why he fails to mention the option of using a harness on a roof. As a solar contractor I won’t allow my workers to work without them unless absolutely necessary due to the design of the roof. They are easy to use and certainly prevent many workplace accidents. 

Jairico Miles 

• 

DONA SPRING 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

With the tragic early passing of Councilmember Dona Spring on July 13, Berkeley and the Green Party of California have lost a political icon and giant. 

Both Berkeley and the Green Party were fortunate to have been graced by Dona’s personal and political courage and her generous spirit. 

Dona served as an inspiration and mentor to scores of local Green Party candidates, and candidates across California after she was elected as California’s first Green Party city councilmember in 1992 shortly after the party’s founding in 1989. Upon her passing, Dona had the distinction of being the longest serving Green Party city councilmember in the United States. 

Dona was influential in helping to launch the political careers of many local Green Party elected officials, including the party’s four current elected officials in Berkeley, among others. 

Dona’s political tenacity on an array of public policy issues over her 15-year tenure of public service was one of her hallmarks. Dona was relentless in pursuing and advocating for issues that were crucial to her, especially the environment, disability rights, affordable housing, rent control policies and social justice issues. 

District 4 constituents’ respect for Dona’s service and representation was confirmed repeatedly during her tenure with overwhelming re-election vote totals. During her 2006 re-election campaign, Dona received over 70 percent of the vote. 

Chris Kavanagh 

Oakland 

• 

COWARDLY ACT 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Inflammatory flyers have been dropped on porches of several neighborhoods in Albany. They accuse John Kindle, a candidate for School Board, of being a danger to our children. 

John Kindle is probably one of the kindest and caring people I know. I am outraged that such an unkind and false accusation could possibly be made about him. This was a cowardly act. 

If true, it should have been reported to the police. It was not. Please confirm that yourself by calling the Albany police. 

I am a lifelong resident of this community. Albany has always been a community concerned not only about their children’s education but about their well being. Over the years, my involvement with youth activities has been extensive. 

I am now serving my last four months on the City Council. Four years ago I was falsely accused of wrongdoing to the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC). I was not only hurt, but I could not believe this was happening in Albany. It appears that these tactics have not ended. 

If you receive this flyer or any other information of its kind, do not ignore it. I ask that you report it to the police immediately. 

Jewel Okawachi 

Albany 

• 

AN INVALID ARGUMENT WIELDS A VALID CONCLUSION 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

The Republican National Convention took four days to establish this invalid syllogism: 

Republicans want McCain. 

Republicans want change. 

Therefore, McCain wants change. 

From the vast distance in space and mind that separates me from the RNC, the argument carries this quite valid corollary: 

Americans must make McCain the 44th president so that he can clean up the mess he helped the 43rd president make. 

Marvin Chachere 

San Pablo 

• 

McCAIN’S CONFUSED IDEOLOGY 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

A shocking new video shows that in 2003, in front of the Council on Foreign Relations, Sen. John McCain said he was more concerned with the war in Iraq, and that we could “muddle through in Afghanistan” without a large number of forces. Sen. McCain showed poor judgment and forethought, which is disturbing given that he says this area is his strong suit. He is so out of touch and misguided, he should not and cannot be elected president. God save our nation. 

Richard Berryman 

• 

HELICOPTERS OVER BERKELEY 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Chop, chop, chop. What’s that noise? We walk down our driveway, step out onto Piedmont Avenue and look up. Helicopters! “Choppers,” their blades lashing the innocent air. Why are they there? A fire? No smoke; no fire engines. Freeway pileup? No freeways in this neighborhood. Then the bad dream comes back to us. It’s May, 1969. Rulers of the university are about to put asphalt over an entire square block south of campus. Some free-spirited students believe trees would look better, grass would feel better, flowers would smell better than asphalt. The rulers put up a chain-link fence and post armed guards. The free spirits make speeches, hold rallies and marches. The rulers call in Berkeley police, Alameda County deputy sheriffs, the National Guard. There are indiscriminate beatings, shootings, tear gas, hundreds of arrests. A peaceful onlooker is killed. For two weeks, Berkeley is a war zone, with all the power on one side. Symbolic of that corrupting power are the helicopters: ugly, ominous, hovering, chopping away at the warm May air. 

It’s now 39 years later. Some things have not changed. The university’s rulers cut down trees to make way for five stories of reinforced concrete. And they still call in helicopters as symbols of their total power. Other things, however, have changed. On May 29, 1969, 40,000 people marched in Berkeley to protest the university’s priorities, and to support the concept of People’s Park. The rulers and their police and their helicopters did not prevail; People’s Park lives. Yesterday, Sept. 9, 2008, there were only four people protesting university policy. Today, they have been stilled.  

We cannot know how the long contest between university rulers and lovers of green and growing things will end. We suspect that the university’s athletic facilities will one day be laid low by the forces of nature and that oak and redwood trees will somewhere still be growing. Whatever the event, we have not forgotten the helicopters of 1969. And we will not forget those of 2008. Chop, chop, chop...  

Henry and Virginia Anderson 

• 

COWARDLY ACT 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I loved those trees in the oak grove. I spent many years hanging out up there. To see them torn down and replaced by a monstrosity of modern architecture that caters to a small minority of elite athletes and feeds the billion dollar college football conglomerate is a damn shame. So I was a general supporter and vaguely interested second-hand observer of the whole scene up there. 

But when I saw people’s lives being endangered trying to get those tree-sitter down, the whole thing turned into one of the stupidest things I’ve ever seen in all my years in Berkeley. We’re all familiar with James Rector, one of the great martyrs for People’s Park. Well, if one of the cops or UC workers had been seriously injured or killed during that melee, then the martyr would have been on the other side of the coin. And we, the Berkeley street scene, would’ve been crunched big-time for the next 50 years. Did any of these activists ever consider the ramifications of that? How easily that whole scene could’ve spun out? I doubt it. What if there had been a Rosebud Denovo type amongst the zealots in the trees, grappling with cops 100 feet off the ground? There are probably causes worth dying for. Berkeley is going to be debating for a long time whether a 75-year-old landscaping project was one of them. 

Ace Backwords

After UC cut down Memorial Stadium oak grove, the tree-sitters remained for three days in a lone redwood tree surrounded by decimation before they agreed to come down Tuesday morning. During those three days you probably wanted to know: What do they want in order to come down? 

UC has a systemic problem: It receives all the legal benefits of a public institution while lacking any democratic process that involves the community in land use decisions. Community members can make comments after decisions are made, but have no real role during the planning process. 

We asked for UC to create a “Community Land Use and Capital Projects Committee”—which would be systematically involved in land use, land management, and development planning decisions, both at the brainstorm phase of projects and on an ongoing basis. The committee would be comprised of students, community members, neighborhood association representatives, Native Americans, environmentalists, and city government representatives. This would be a positive development for all parties. Community members would have substantial and serious input into decisions that affect their environment; and UC would ensure a more co-operative spirit and avoid the drawbacks of lawsuits and protests. 

We further asked for UC to set aside a non-trivial sum from future football revenues to be utilized to benefit land conservation as well as the Intertribal Friendship House, which serves Native American communities. 

Finally, we wanted UC to return the remains of the “Grandmother Oak”—a tree who was older than the university—so that Native Americans will be able to make drums or other religious artifacts. 

Our hope is that these proposals build toward a positive future of a more sustainable, democratic, and co-operative university. 

UC was unwilling to discuss any of these proposals until after the tree-sitters came down. In the interests of safety and ending the protest on a positive note, the tree-sitters spoke directly with UC officials, and reached an agreement that Vice Chancellor Nathan Brostrom would make the following public statement: “The university will create new ways to involve the community in land use decisions going forward.” 

But what will that involvement be? Will it be a token form of rubber-stamp representation, while the university pursues business as usual, or will it be a genuine effort to involve the community in decisions? It is up to all the citizens of Berkeley to make sure the university does the right thing. 

We still believe the university should use its financial resources to mitigate the destruction of the grove, and return the Grandmother Oak stump to the native community. 

Finally, Native American leader and community organizer Morning Star Gali requested that she and others be able to enter the remains of the grove and place tobacco offerings at the stump of the Grandmother Oak. UC Police Chief Victoria Harrison agreed on Saturday to this request, but she made it conditional on the tree-sitters coming down first. Our response at the time was simple: It’s completely inappropriate to link the two issues, which are unrelated. Under no circumstances should the native community’s religious rights be denied. After the tree-sit ended, Morning Star again made the request, and Chief Harrison has not returned her calls. 

Morning Star has announced that the native community will attempt to hold the ceremony this Friday at 10 a.m. at the remains of the oak grove, all are welcome. We hope Chief Harrison will do the right thing and open the gate to let us in, so please call her and ask her to do so: 642-1133 or e-mail vlh@berkeley.edu. Also please ask her to return the stump of the Grandmother Oak. 

It is truly incomprehensible how, in 2008, an institution that claims to be so progressive can destroy a Native American burial ground, a World War I veterans’ memorial, and an urban forest/wildlife corridor in violation of local laws while there is a yet-to-be-concluded court case just to build a gym that could easily be built elsewhere. Furthermore, it is despicable that this same institution —which pimps its reputation as “the birthplace of free speech”—has vilified so badly those who would defend this place, going so far as to accuse us of endangering students, when it was UC who negligently built office and training facilities in this death trap of a stadium 28 years ago. 

We loved the oak grove dearly, as did so many others. Its loss is a tragedy. We hope that UC will show respect for the countless community members who dedicated so much for this sacred place.. 

Ayr has been a ground supporter from the beginning of the tree-sit. 

Suddenly, in Berkeley, we are back in the early 1960s. Half a century ago a large, ad hoc, well-funded assortment of owners and managers targeted for urban development (classrooms, malls, hotels, discount houses, condominiums) the “unused” shoreline, the land and water to the west. A similar group of movers and shakers has now mapped out for concrete and asphalt, equipment and people, the beautiful natural park with its year-round creek, that extends up Strawberry Canyon to the east. 

This time around, the managers of Lawrence Lab, backed by the University of California, want to augment the bulk of the stadium and swimming pools with several new, autonomous laboratories, as well as classrooms, institutes, and host facilities for the distinguished, the able, and the great who will visit, admire and work in them. 

But 50 years ago, the City of Berkeley, with its own consortium of respectable people of all ages and all walks of life, won a lengthy legal battle against the would-be despoilers of the great asset of the waterfront, as water and as land. The leaders of the fray, Sylvia McLaughlin, Kay Kerr (wife of UC Berkeley Chancellor Clark Kerr), Esther Gulick, all well over 50, became heroic, legendary figures, and their support group included students, faculty, poets, business, workers, industrialists. One knowledgeable assessment: “Those three women turned everyone in the bay region into a conservationist.” From the size and partisanship of the public hearing July 24 on further building in the area of the stadium, that time has come again: Close to 100 percent of the speakers supported natural landscape, protection of wild creatures, earth underfoot. 

And that is what the two great designers of the University of California had in mind. Both John Galen Howard and Frederick Law Olmsted emphasized the importance of the clear east-west corridor of stream and glade as the axis of the university and of the city. Placement of the stadium was the first big mistake, and Howard resigned as architect over the decision to put it at the canyon throat. It was, in fact, the high hills, declining into sloping forest, the great bay trees along Strawberry Creek, the life and volume of the stream, the oaks below, the constant splendor of the views over field and marshland to the bay and through the Golden Gate that made administrators and architects of the new College of California choose this site. 

The idea of three more labs in Strawberry Canyon, with ancillary facilities, is monstrous. Unbuilt-on lots and “investment potential” is available in south and west Berkeley, where it is, and would be an asset. University, build there. Rip up what is already concrete and asphalt. Retain as priceless what remains of their natural heritage for all the students of the University, for all the citizens of Berkeley, more than any other place or site. Insidiously, year after year, the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory has taken over more land for building, from strips of flimsy clutter to large blocks which seem to have been thrown at the hillside rather than constructed for the place. Even today, with so many errors of commission, about a thousand students a day run, walk, or amble up and down the leafy arcade of the existing trail, joined peacefully by the rest of us. 

Ariel Parkinson is a Berkeley artist and activist.

Becky O’Malley’s editorial “Sarah Palin Fails Her Most Important Job” is unfortunate and misguided. 

O’Malley suggests “If the Palins … really want to support these pregnant children, they would put their own professional ambitions on hold…” Criticism of Palin’s family life and the number of children she has is at best a distraction—at worst, the grounds the GOP needs to claim sexism and double standards to generate sympathy for her. 

The fact that O’Malley wrote her article shows Palin is succeeding at her “most important (political) job,” deflecting media and the public from the substantive issues at hand. 

The important thing to know (and repeat) about Palin is this, while she espouses small government she is the Governor of a state that receives more federal aid, grants and funds per capita than any other in the union. While she claims to be a “reformer” and parades her rejection of “the bridge to nowhere” she accepts the funds in question adding them to Alaska’s federally bloated treasury. 

For every $1 an Alaskan pays in federal taxes the feds send back a $1.84. Quite a deal. Alaska is a welfare state! 

In the same way the left wasted words making fun of George Bush they now spin their wheels around Palin. But she and McCain are profoundly vulnerable when it comes to substance and their rhetoric is transparent on second inspection. 

Rather than taking the bait the left should take a deep breath, then hit Palin and McCain’s with their own words. Though their speeches are well-crafted (and Palin’s well-delivered) they are riddled with lies and self-contradictions. 

The Republicans are promoting two big themes, “Security” (including “victory” in Iraq) and “fighting Big Government.” The Democrats must claim these themes as their own. 

In her acceptance speech Palin establishes several false choices. In one case between security and due process remarking “Al Qaeda terrorists still plot to inflict catastrophic harm on America ...(while Obama) worries that someone won’t read them their rights?”  

The left must call this anti-American, an affront to the constitution and an insult to the soldiers who gave their lives defending our freedoms. Translate Palin’s mockery of due process into McCain and Palin’s support for Big Government stepping on personal rights. Then suggest, “Next they will want you to give up your guns!” 

Obama believes in the constitution and keeping the government in check. He believes each person must be protected from the powers of big government. This should be the Democrat’s litany. 

The McCain-Palin campaign claims we are near “victory” in Iraq. Staying on message they whip up nationalistic fervor. The left must interrupt the cheers and chants by asking: What victory? What did we gain? What did 4000 Americans die for? What did we get for our 900 billion dollar investment? 

The GOP works hard to distract America from the context of the Iraq war. The public must be reminded, “Republican lies took us to war in Iraq and away from the war on terror.” 

Likewise the McCain campaign tells his compelling P.O.W. story in a void. Again, the public must be reminded that nothing was gained in Vietnam. There was no “victory” only the senseless deaths of 55,000 Americans and millions of Vietnamese. 

The Republican Party is the party of reckless and pointless wars and wasteful spending. They are the party that advocates Big Government and the destruction of personal rights. 

We cannot allow Palin’s simplistic and incendiary rhetoric, or headline-grabbing family distract us. Working class, Middle America must understand it is in their interest to elect Obama. Reminders of the so-called elite picking on families just like theirs will only alienate them and advance the McCain-Palin agenda. 

John Koenigshofer is a Berkeley resident.

As the presidential poll numbers tighten, I have recently heard the following: The American people are stupid, voters have again been manipulated by the media, working class voters will again vote on cultural, not economic, issues, and the United States will never elect an African-American President. This deep-seated distrust of the “average” U.S. voter appears to conflict with progressives’ stated faith in the wisdom of “the people.” For many progressives, the past week has brought back memories of 2004, when an openly right-wing president prevailed despite forcing the nation into a disastrous war. Some now believe that the 2004 scenario will be repeated, particularly in a media climate as supportive of McCain-Palin as it was toward Bush-Cheney. Not to spoil people’s misery fest, but 2008 is not 2004. And those lacking any confidence in voters’ ability to decide which candidates really represent “change” should become active in something other than politics. 

A single Gallup Poll of “likely” voters that had John McCain 10 points ahead has sent many progressives into despair. Forget the fact that a Sept. 8 CNN poll has the race tied, that the race is tied in most polls, and that the Gallup poll is widely considered suspect due to its sampling (the difficulty of assessing who is a “likely” voter as early as September, and the excessive number of Republicans surveyed.) 

Forget the fact that every electoral vote and Pollster.com counter still has Obama ahead. This is about psychology, and as my colleague Paul Hogarth put it to me, Obama backers are acting like stockbrokers climbing on to ledges before the Great Crash in Oct. 1929. 

Progressives’ election defeatism  

Of the last seven presidential elections, the five winning Republican candidates implemented policies that increased economic inequality. The fact that millions of voters cast ballots for candidates who reduced their own relative incomes while making the rich even richer has caused some progressives to abandon the notion that U.S. voters make rational decisions when casting ballots in presidential elections. 

Add this to the often-cited cultural, religious, and racial factors, and some progressives see millions of the nation’s voters as easily swayed by images and media, and impervious to reason-based arguments. To their mind, voters will go into the polling booths in November assuming Democrats have run the nation for the last eight years, blaming the Democrats for the recession, and concluding that it is John McCain—not Barack Obama—who is the reformer. 

Some of those who do not doubt the intelligence of the electorate reach the same conclusion by asserting that the United States is simply a conservative country. Not only will we never elect an African-American, but voters are willing to accept economic hard times and the lack of health insurance. 

Based on this analysis, one wonders how Barack Obama won the nomination against the powerful Clinton machine. Or how Democrats retook the House and Senate in 2006, winning key seats in such red states as Virginia, Montana and Missouri. 

Progressive defeatism is an illness. It is not a rational response to surrounding political conditions. 

Professional and highly successful progressives often combine defeatism with the belief that any show of confidence will “jinx” a positive outcome. So all must be woe until after victory, as if such a negative attitude is necessary to prevent overconfidence and slacking off. 

Nobody should give up working for change, or should get overconfident about November. But adopting worse case scenarios and “the sky is falling” attitudes will not improve the chances for victory. 

The political landscape: Virginia, Ohio, Colorado 

For those diehard pessimists, let’s look at the electoral math. 

What state did John Kerry win in 2004 than Barack Obama will not win in 2008? Michigan? Pennsylvania? I don’t see voters in either of these economically hard-pressed states switching to the Republican candidate in November, and it’s hard to think of another “blue” state in 2004 where McCain has even a good chance. 

What states did Bush win in 2004 that Obama can win? The Democrat is well ahead in Iowa and New Mexico. He faces a very hospitable political environment in Virginia, a state which saw Tim Kaine elected Governor in 2005, Jim Webb overcome the massive statewide operation of Republican incumbent George Allen in 2006, and which has Mark Warner running for Senate of the same November 2008 ballot. 

Virginia’s Democratic Party and grassroots allies have become extremely well organized. Obama did much better than expected in the Virginia Democratic primary, and has a great chance to seize this longtime red state. 

Ohio in 2004 had not elected a Democrat to statewide office in a decade, had a broken down Democratic Party lacking much field capacity, and Bush campaign co-chair Ken Blackwell administered the election in his role as Secretary of State. Despite the above, Kerry narrowly lost Ohio, which would have given him the election. 

In 2006, Democrats won the Governorship and key state offices. The Ohio Democratic Party has been reborn, and combined with the Obama campaign and independent efforts, there is likely more on the ground for Obama in Ohio today than there was a week before election day in 2004. 

Bush’s record rural and suburban Republican turnout swung the Ohio election in 2004, but the economy has worsened and the demographics of the electorate have shifted. I don’t think the McCain’s Ohio forces can replicate the Bush effort, and even if they did, this year it likely will not be enough.  

Colorado went heavily Democratic in 2006, Latinos will vote Democratic in even higher numbers, and popular Senate candidate Mark Udall is on the November ballot. Colorado may be close, but this is another red state in 2004 where McCain is in trouble. 

The bottom line 

Barack Obama has created the greatest field campaign in the history of Democratic presidential campaigns, staffed by the “community organizers” for which Sarah Palin and the Republicans show such scorn. If you lack confidence in their efforts, and are among those already second and third-guessing Obama campaign tactics (much of the advice on blogs is contradictory), maybe you ought to focus on fantasy football this fall while others work for change. 

Randy Shaw is the editor of BeyondChron.org and the author of the forthcoming book Beyond the Fields: Cesar Chavez, the UFW and the Struggle for Justice in the 21st Century. 

There are three local tax measures facing Berkeley voters: Measure GG, Fire Protection and Emergency Preparedness Tax; Measure FF, Library Bond; and Measure GG, the Gann Tax Renewals. The most objectionable is GG, for the reasons below, but there are also good reasons to say no to all three. 

Living in the North Berkeley hills and being of a certain age, I am as terrified of fire and inadequate emergency medical services as anyone. And my support for our essential city services—fire, police, emergency medical, library, and public works is so strong that I insist that they be funded first, from the city’s abundant discretionary moneys, and not be put in the political arena of special taxes levied on an already overtaxed local middle class homeowner population. 

Let’s be clear: A simple majority vote by our City Council would keep our fire stations open and manned, would fully fund fire and emergency medical services at an appropriate level, and would be a catalyst for management and program reform that “those in the know” know are absolutely necessary. It is unconscionable to threaten us with death and destruction if we don’t agree to pay more, when the power to fund these services, and fund them right now, lies with our elected Council! 

So I urge you to stand up for Berkeley and vote no, as you did in 2004, to paying extra for essential fire and emergency medical services. This special fire tax is unwise and unfair, fiscally unnecessary, and an impediment to the budgetary and management reform that is essential for long term sustainability. 

Unwise and unfair 

My candidate Obama, and the national Democratic party, have said that the last thing we need is to increase taxes on the middle class. Why are our elected representatives acting like Republicans by increasing the middle class tax burden and letting others off scot-free? Consider: 

Berkeley’s middle-income homeowners already bear the lion’s share of local taxation. And they are now facing shrinking home values, stagnant incomes, job uncertainty, and disappearing benefits. 

Berkeley real property taxes are at the top range in our high tax state, and are at the very top when one adds in our transfer tax, utility user tax, sales tax, sewer service fee, permit fees, and parking fines and fees. 

Our real property taxes are regressive, as they don’t account for income. California already has a steeply-progressive income tax to capture revenues from those who can and should pay more. The average Berkeley family income is only about $87,500 (includes two-income families), and the new owner of an average home ($750,000) has a real property tax bill of almost $11,000. 

Proposition 13 is not the problem. About 80 percent of Berkeley homes have turned over since Prop. 13 passed, and assessed values and local tax revenues have risen astronomically as a result. Those 20 percent of homeowners with the lowest assessed values are usually elderly retired persons on fixed incomes. The average Berkeley homeowner ($330,500 assessed value) already pays a substantial $5,500 annually. Commercial/industrial properties do not pay a commensurate share as they do not, at least openly, often change hands and face upward reassessment. 

Too many Berkeley participants—non-homeowners, the university, developers, large nonprofits—pay little or nothing for the services they use. So why is our city government going after the middle class homeowner for yet more money? 

Fiscally unnecessary and a deterrent to budgetary and management reform 

The city’s basic ad valorem tax revenue has doubled in the last eight years, permanently adding about $20 million annually, with regular $5-10 million additional annual increases likely. Real Property Transfer Tax revenue has ranged between $10-15 million annually. 

There is $141 million discretionary General Fund, growing by at least 5 percent annually. 

The city budget is up 60 percent over the last 10 years, almost double the 32 percent inflation rate 

Most of our existing special taxes already have generous annual inflators. The special library tax, due to manipulation of the annual inflator by council, is up more than 80 percent despite the actual 32 percent inflation rate. 

Budgetary reforms absolutely need to be implemented for long term fiscal sustainability and community survival, such as: 

• Controlling city employee costs, which are 80 percent of the budget. Average compensation is now about $159,000, and is due to go up 14 percent over three to four years. (Remember, the average Berkeley family income is $87,500, and this is with two earners considered, unlike city employees). Twenty-five percent of city employees are paid more than $100,000 in salary alone. We need to cut the number of city employees, at least by attrition. With a stable population of about 100,000, Berkeley’s staff has increased by more than 30 percent over the last 20 or so years. 

• Reconsidering and de-funding unjustifiable pet, pork barrel, and “earmark” projects loved by our City Council, especially in an election year. For example, $9 million is given annually to un-audited community agencies for duplicative, unproven, and often nonessential services, such as a gardening cooperative and an athletes for peace organization. 

• Cutting subsidies to developers, pursuing adequate reimbursement from UC for the approximately $15 million in free services it receives, limiting the use of expensive outside contractors, implementing an effective economic development program to expand the tax base, and, most important, putting nonessential services and projects before the voters instead of essential services.  

The city’s Fire Department needs to be better managed 

About $2 million of the proposed $3.6 million tax constitutes an overtime slush fund for a mismanaged Fire Department, and the other items, such as radio equipment, could and should be easily funded by the General Fund. Last year our firefighters accrued 37,000 overtime hours, almost $2 million was spent on overtime ($1.4 million over budget), and 12-15 vacancies, more than 10 percent of authorized staffing, were left unfilled. About 25 percent of firefighters were compensated more than $200,000. If these vacancies are filled and time off managed responsibly, we could cut overtime costs back to the budgeted $600,000 and have a better-staffed Fire Department.  

Most of the Fire Department calls—about 8,000—are for emergency medical services, yet we do not even have a trained Medical Dispatcher who could give immediate lifesaving emergency medical advice and dispatch paramedics and ambulance instead of the full Fire Department regalia of engine, truck, ambulance and the accompanying highly-paid crew. We also need to consider a dedicated independent paramedic/ambulance service that would use trained paramedic staff and state-of-the-art ambulance equipment at a far lower cost than the current regalia of highly-paid firefighters, firefighter-paramedics, engines, trucks, and ambulances. 

My candidate Obama has also said that we don’t need more of the same old politics. In my opinion, these unfair, unwise, unnecessary, and reform-averse special taxes are exactly that, the same old tired politics. In 2004, voters rejected similar taxes by wide margins, and should do so again, insisting that our city leaders immediately fund these services at the proper level.  

Barbara Gilbert is a long-time Berkeley homeowner and civic observer. 

The city clerk has published the ballot arguments for Measure KK, the anti-transit initiative, and anyone who is familiar with the issues can see that the measure’s backers have filled their ballot argument with false claims. 

Measure KK backers claim that AC Transit’s Bus Rapid Transit project would eliminate local bus stops. 

In fact, AC Transit is considering two alternatives plans and has not decided which to implement. Separate service, with local buses running in the mixed traffic lanes, would certainly not eliminate any local bus stops. Combined service, with local buses running in the dedicated BRT lanes, could conceivably eliminate some local bus stops, but the final decision on location of bus stops in would depend on input from the Berkeley Planning Commission and City Council. We will not know how BRT affects local bus stops until we see the final environmental impact report (EIR). 

Measure KK backers claim that most parking would be removed along the route. 

In fact, AC Transit has promised to replace parking removed in all locations where there is a shortage of parking. A shortage is defined as a vacancy rate of less than 15 percent for off-street parking; planners agree that, when the vacancy rate is higher than this, it is easy to find on-street parking. We will not know how AC Transit plans to replace parking until we see the c. 

Measure KK backers claim that travel time saved by BRT will be insignificant. 

In fact, the average bus trip in the corridor will be 15 percent to 30 percent faster than it is now. AC Transit is currently calculating the total net time savings for all transportation in the corridor, and it is expected to be large. This figure will also be in the final EIR. 

Measure KK backers claim that energy savings will be insignificant and that BRT is not “green.” 

In fact, BRT will save enough energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over six million pounds per year. The draft EIR was written at a time when the law did not yet require EIRs to study greenhouse gas reductions. Because the law has changed, the final EIR will contain these figures. 

All of the backers’ ballot arguments are based on the draft EIR. They apparently do not realize that a draft EIR is a first draft, as its name implies. Projects are changed based on public comments on the draft EIR, and we will not know what the actual BRT project is until we see the final EIR. Berkeley’s Planning Commission has not even developed the city’s input on the draft EIR yet, and we do not know what routes they will support or what mitigations they will want. 

Measure KK backers are telling us to make the decision about BRT before we have all the facts. 

Most absurd, Measure KK backers claim that their initiative will not be costly, as the city attorney’s analysis says. They say: “leave our streets alone—and this measure will cost zero.” 

In other words, they say that we should do nothing to build environmentally sound transportation—never implement light rail in Berkeley, and never implement BRT in Berkeley, even though these are the most cost-effective ways of improving public transportation. 

Their arguments focus narrow mindedly on AC Transit’s current proposal for BRT. They do not seem to realize that, if their initiative passed, it would be in effect for the indefinite future. It would apply to light rail as well as to BRT. It would apply to every street in Berkeley. 

It would mean long delays and large added costs for any light rail or BRT project proposed in Berkeley, which could kill these projects. This would be a major obstacle to Berkeley’s attempts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the key environmental issue in the 21st century. 

Measure KK backers are very good at shooting from the hip. 

They are shooting from the hip by basing all their arguments on the draft EIR for AC Transit’s current BRT project, saying that we should reject the project before we even see the final EIR and know what its final design is. 

They are shooting from the hip by thinking only of the current project and not realizing that their initiative would be an obstacle to all future light-rail or BRT projects in Berkeley. 

I think they will learn that, when you shoot from the hip, you are likely to end up shooting yourself in the foot. 

Charles Siegel is a Berkeley resident. 

First of all, full disclosure: Mr. Rizwan A. Rahmani, who penned a Labor Day op-ed regarding the questionable allegiances of Sen. Joe Lieberman, is my husband, so when I respond to the letter from David Altschul, I do so not only because the letter in question is full of “foul foolishness” (Mr. Altschul’s own letter-closing zinger), but also because he attacked the man I love, and unlike the aforementioned Sen. Lieberman, I know where my loyalties lie. 

Foul Foolishness (FF) No. 1: He begins by misquoting Mr. Rahmani, saying it was a “stupid lie that Sen. Joseph Lieberman ‘agreed totally with’ President Bush.” Mr. Rahmani did not state or insinuate that Sen. Lieberman agreed with the President Lord King of Foul Foolishness, i.e. Bush, on every issue, just the war. (Mr. Rahmani in fact voted for the Gore-Lieberman ticket in 2000 and is not a one-issue voter.) 

Foul Foolishness No. 2: He continues by slandering Mr. Rahmani’s wording as “grammatically illiterate, meaningless gasbaggery”—true statesmanlike discourse and debate, hm? Of course, personal insults are a typical response to “the truth hurts” issues—lashing out at the packaging or delivery rather than the content of the charge. (Never mind the fact that English is Mr. Rahmani’s fourth language: If you can’t formulate your opinions with unimpeachable grammar, don’t bother—free speech for English majors only!) 

Foul Foolishness No. 3: “I’ll bet anything that Rahmani doesn’t have ‘any altruistic allegiances’ either, but that’s not my major point.” First of all, keep silent on points you know less than nothing about, e.g. my husband’s allegiances. Secondly, the comparison is illogical: Sen. Lieberman’s record is a public matter and he is an elected official. 

Foul Foolishness No. 4: He notes that Israel has the best record in its region concerning environmentalism, free speech, freedom of religion, gay rights, medical aid to Africa’s poor, medical research, and women’s rights. Hm: “In its region.” Can’t say the competition was very stiff. But more importantly, just because a country does some things right doesn’t mean the world has to turn a blind eye to the things they do WRONG. (But such an assertion sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Love it or leave it? Patriotism = keep your mouth shut?) 

Foul Foolishness No. 5 and, really, the crowning moment of ignominy in his letter: “Yes, I refer to Israel which, like the United States and unlike the homeland of Rahmani’s ancestors, has such confidence and moral courage concerning its basic principles that it affords even a Rahmani the freedom to foment factless, factionalist, filth.” My goodness. How does the all-knowing Mr. Altschul know the homeland of Mr. Rahmani’s ancestors? It’s not where he obviously thinks it is, which is kind of amusing for someone who espouses such enmity for factlessness. 

Sonja Fitz is an Oakland resident, an English major, and has been married to Mr. Rahmani for 22 years. 

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Berkeley’s Public Works Commission is in the process of changing the criteria for allocating PG&E 20A public funds for underground wiring. It has been a process without public input or consideration from other city commissions. 

PG&E gives each of 256 cities an allocation of funds for undergrounding. The city prioritizes the projects; PG&E will advise and help. The usual time line from beginning to end is three to five years. According to PG&E, the current 20A publicly funded projects in Berkeley are well over 16 years from completion. 

A subcommittee of the Public Works Commission presented a “Workshop on 20A Underground Wiring” to the City Council on May 20, prior to a regular council meeting. Few from the public were present and no report was available prior to the meeting for review. The following street criteria for future PG&E 20A Public Funds were recommended to the council. All three conditions must be met for funding: 

A. Designation as arterial in the General Plan 

B. Designation as Emergency route in the General Plan 

C. Priority to streets with higher traffic volumes 

How the subcommittee of the Public Works Commission decided on this proposal for underground funding is a complete mystery. One thing is clear, the “new” criteria would eliminate large areas of Berkeley from future consideration. For example, there is not a single “arterial” street in Northeast Berkeley as defined by the General Plan. Furthermore, the recommendation does not take into consideration the “higher traffic volume” that will occur on all collector streets after a catastrophe. Despite the vulnerability of Northeast Berkeley to potential disaster, not a single street would be eligible for future public funding. 

Though the City Council suggested a more public process, nothing has happened. The intent is to have the criteria established by January in order to start the planning process for the next funding allocation. Time is of the essence. The Disaster Fire Commission, not consulted, sent a letter to the Public Works Commission expressing an interest in being informed and involved in the planning for 20A Underground Wire Funding criteria especially as it relates to emergency routes and fire hazards due to overhead power lines. 

The City of Berkeley needs a strategic plan for use of public funds to underground the wires and reduce the hazard of the poles and wires throughout the city. They are not only a visual blight, they are an extreme earthquake, landslide and fire hazard, especially in the hills. Undergrounding will increase the ability of emergency vehicles to access areas of the city in a disaster and people will be better able to evacuate. Fire and emergency vehicles need to get in and people need to get out. The Fire Department needs to be able to meet its goal of accessing all areas of the city in four minutes. 

Northeast Berkeley is particularly vulnerable during this time of year and is at risk of being isolated from city rescue efforts in the event of earthquakes and fires. March and April 2008, have been the driest months on record with high temperatures and low humidity. May 12 was the official beginning of the fire season. Since then, the frequent high winds and multitude of fires throughout California have increased the anxiety for those living in the hills of Berkeley. When it is calm in downtown Berkeley, it is often hot and dry with gusty winds in the hills posing a major fire danger. The fire season usually does not pick up until September and October yet this has been a spring and summer of Red Flag Warnings. The risk and condition of the telephone poles and wires are a particular concern for the area.  

Undegrounding wires and utilities will improve safety of life and property. In the event of an earthquake, poles may fall, wires may be yanked from the poles igniting fires wherever they land. Currently, poles are leaning, brittle, overloaded and risk fires from arching wires. Ivy growing up poles adds to the hazard as the ivy undermines the base of the pole which could result in falling. Added to the fire season, residents in the hills are extremely vulnerable half of the year. 

The city needs to engage the community and other commissions in the development of criteria for undergrounding and establish a city wide plan for implementation. The Disaster and Fire Commission is ready. The Transportation Department terminology of street terms—major, collector, local (all others) would be useful in creating criteria. There needs to be common terminology prioritizing access and evacuation until all streets are covered. 

As to cost, the mantra for many years from the City Council and city has been that there are insufficient or no funds for undergrounding the wires. Develop a strategic plan for the city; then money will follow. For starters, PG&E allocates funds (20A). Also, with the infrastructure needs of this country, the City of Berkeley needs to work with state and federal representatives to position itself for funding. Ashby Avenue and Tunnel Road are part of a highway system and should be eligible for Cal Tran funds. Other funding sources could include the university, transfer tax, telephone and cable companies. Pool financial resources to speed the process of undergrounding throughout the city. 

Seeking funds from Cal Tran to underground the wires on Ashby Avenue and Tunnel Road is long overdue. The ceiling of wires on Ashby Avenue is a blight to the community and a safety hazard. However, to ignore the other side of town and exclude Northeast Berkeley from safety improvements is wrong. Hearst, Euclid Avenue, Spruce and Grizzly Peak are collector streets used by emergency vehicles and those accessing Tilden Regional Park. Euclid Avenue and Grizzly Peak form a wedge by which streets east and west can be reached for access by fire engines and are primary streets for evacuation. Northeast Berkeley is part of Berkeley and though it lacks libraries, recreation centers, public health and senior citizen facilities, speed bumps, diverters and traffic calming circles, it pays taxes to all these services and traffic devices and should have access to financial resources dedicated to improved safety. 

The City of Berkeley needs an Underground Wiring Strategic Plan which prioritizes access and evacuation so that the Fire Department, can indeed, reach residents in four minutes. Northeast Berkeley must be included in that plan.  

Pamela Doolan is a community volunteer and long time Berkeley resident. 

United Nations officials charge that secret “international intelligence services” are conducting raids to kill Afghan civilians, then hiding the perpetuators behind an “impenetrable” wall of bureaucracy.  

Philip Alston of the UN Human Rights Council said that “heavily armed internationals” leading local militias have killed scores of Afghan civilians. Coalition forces have killed more than 200 Afghan civilians since January. 

He called the raids, which operate independent of the United States and NATO military commands, “unacceptable.” Alston pointed to a specific incident last January in which two brothers were killed during a raid in the southern city of Kandahar, an area where the Taliban have a strong presence. 

“The [two] victims are widely acknowledged, even by well-informed government officials, to have no connection to the Taliban, and the circumstance of their deaths is suspicious,” he said. 

When Alston tried to investigate the murders, however, he hit a stone wall. “Not only was I unable to get any international military commander to provide their version of what took place, but I was unable to get any military commander to even admit that their soldiers were involved,” the UN official told the Financial Times. 

Suspicion has fallen on the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), which led such teams into Afghanistan during the 1990s in an attempt to capture or kill Osama bin Laden, and again during the 2001 invasion.  

According to Alston, the shadow units work out of two bases: U.S. Camp Ghecko near Kandahar, and a base in the province of Nangarhar. “It is absolutely unacceptable for heavily armed internationals, accompanied by heavily armed Afghan forces, to be wandering around conducting dangerous raids that too often result in killings without anyone taking responsibility for them,” he wrote in a recent UN report.  

Something very similar may be going on in Iraq. In his latest book, The War Within, Bob Woodward writes that the U.S. military has a program to “locate, target and kill key individuals in extremist groups.” Last month U.S. Special Forces killed the son and nephew of the governor of Salahuddin Province north of Baghdad. Unlike the shootings at roadblocks by U.S. troops, a common occurrence, Iraqi investigators say the two men were essentially executed. 

A U.S. spokesman said the raid was conducted to capture a “suspected al Qaeda in Iraq operative,” and that the man was injured when he “charged” the American troops. The other “suspected terrorist” was wounded and arrested. “Both men were armed and presented hostile intent,” the spokesman said. 

But according to a spokesman for Governor Hamed al-Qaisi, U.S. troops broke into the house at 3 a.m. and shot the governor’s 17-year old son to death while he slept. The nephew, hearing the commotion, tried to enter the room and was gunned down as well.  

The killings are similar to one near Karbala in June, where a cousin of current Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki was killed. In both cases, Iraqi authorities were kept in the dark about the impending raids. 

The question is: are Special Forces in Iraq and CIA units in Afghanistan carrying out clandestine hits? In most places in the world, those groups are called “death squads.” 

Mercenaries are on a roll. Last month’s Associated Press story that the infamous mercenary firm Blackwater Worldwide was getting out of the private army business was a mistake. A company spokesman said the reporter had misunderstood him. Indeed, as the Iraq war winds down, firms like Blackwater, Triple Canopy and DynCorp are finding new markets to exploit, many of them in Africa. 

As conservative military analyst David Isenberg points out in his column, “Dogs of War,” mercenaries are, in a sense, returning to their modern roots. “The progenitor for many of today’s private security firms was the South-Africa-based Executive Outcomes, which fought in Angola and Sierra Leone,” says Isenberg. 

Executive Outcomes and the South African Army were routed by Angolan and Cuban troops during Angola’s long and bloody civil war, a conflict that was fueled in large part by apartheid Pretoria and the United States, along with help from Zaire and the People’s Republic of China.  

But the defeat was hardly a major setback for the mercenary industry. It’s hard to keep jackals down. 

Cold War conflicts created a growth market, and, coupled with the Reagan Administration’s passion for privatization, mercenary organizations like the U.S. Military Professional Resources Inc. (MPRI) and DynCorp became players in Latin America and the Balkans conflict.  

While Ronald Reagan’s and George W. Bush’s administrations generally get the credit for this privatization drive, as Tim Shorrock points out in his book, Spies for Hire: The Secret World of Intelligence Outsourcing, it was Bill Clinton who really brought private enterprise into the business of gathering intelligence and fighting wars. 

According to Shorrock, Clinton “picked up the cudgel where the conservative Reagan left off,” and by the end of his last term, had cut 360,000 federal jobs, while spending on private contractors had jumped 44 percent over 1993. 

The right-wing Heritage Foundation, a major force in the current Bush administration, called Clinton’s 1996 budget the “boldest privatization agenda put forth by any president to date.” 

(For an excellent discussion of this subject see Chalmers Johnson in Japan Focus at japanfocus.org/products/topdf/2834.)  

One obvious advantage to hiring Blackwater, DynCorp, MPRI, and Triple Canopy was that it shortcircuits Congressional oversight, bypasses pesky obstacles like the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and hides the cost of the wars. 

Now the mercenaries are returning to their old haunts in Africa to train “peacekeepers.” The problem is that today’s “peacekeeper” may become tomorrow’s thug. An examination of training programs by the U.S. Army’s Strategic Studies Institute found that “Every armed group that plundered Liberia over the past 25 years had at its core” U.S. trained soldiers.  

Addressing the current training of Liberian soldiers by DynCorp, the study warns there is a definite downside “to creating an armed elite.” If the United States withdraws its training funds, “Liberia will be sitting on a time bomb: a well-trained and armed force of elite soldiers who are used to good pay and conditions of service, which may be impossible for the government of Liberia to sustain on its own.”  

MPRI is training militaries in Benin, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda and Senegal. DynCorp is doing the same in Darfur and Somalia. While the cover story is fighting terrorism and ensuring stability, U.S. military intervention—direct and through mercenaries and its client state, Ethiopia—has thoroughly destabilized Somalia, creating a crisis that rivals Darfur. 

While the malnutrition rate in Darfur is 13 percent, in some areas of Somalia it is 19 percent. The UN considers 15 percent to be the “emergency threshold.”  

“The situation in Somalia is the worst on the continent,” says the UN’s top official in Somalia, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah.  

According to Eric Laroche, the head of the UN’s humanitarian services in Somalia, conditions were much better under the Islamic Courts Union that the U.S-sponsored invasion overthrew. “It was much more peaceful and much easier for us to work. The Islamists didn’t cause us any problems,” he said. 

In spite of Blackwater’s reputation as trigger-happy cowboys who gunned down 17 unarmed Iraqi civilians last year, the company may soon see action in the Sudan. Actress and Darfur activist Mia Farrow recently met with the corporation’s owner, Erik Prince, to discuss using the company in a military role in the western Sudan. 

According to a 2007 study by the industrial College of the Armed Forces, “Africa may do for the [mercenary] industry in the next 20 years what Iraq has done in the past four years, provide a significant growth engine.” 

Behind that growth, says Nicole Lee of TransAfrica, “is nothing short of a sovereignty and resource grab.” The National Energy Policy Development Group estimates that by 2015, a quarter of U.S. oil imports will come from Africa. Most of these will come from the Gulf of Guinea and the western regions of North Africa, but Sudan has the second largest reserves on the continent.  

The United States has established a military command for the region—Africom—but no nation has agreed to host it yet. While suspicions about U.S. goals in Africa run high, those doubts apparently don’t extend to U.S.-based mercenary organizations. While countries are holding Africom at arm’s length, those same countries are embracing Blackwater, DynCorp, Triple Canopy, and MPRI. 

Mercenaries are not just an American phenomenon. Israel has begun privatizing its security checkpoints using the Israeli mercenary company Modiin Ezrahi. According to a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense, “By the end of the year all the people [guards] at the checkpoints will be civilians.” 

Israel claims it is replacing the army with mercenaries because it wants to demilitarize the checkpoints, but peace activists say that argument is nonsense. Hanna Barag of the human rights organization Machsom Watch says the civilian security guards are “Rambos” who behave no differently than Israeli soldiers. 

The UN reports an increase in “significant difficulties” since the mercenaries took over. 

Daniel Levy, a former advisor to current Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, says the real reason is that it walls off the Israeli population from the burdens of trying to control 2.5 million Palestinians. “It separates [the occupation] from Israeli society,” he told the Financial Times. “These guys [mercenaries] don’t go home and tell their mothers what they are doing.” 

In the end, the bottom line is the bottom line. Private contractors in Iraq—190,000 strong—will cost U.S. taxpayers an estimated $100 billion by the end of 2008. 

Readers might want to check out an interesting website: www.pacificfreepress.com.

While Gov. Sarah Palin’s various stances on Alaska’s infamous Bridge to Nowhere are getting the most media attention these days and make an interesting issue, it is the willingness of our Republican friends to burn any bridges over which longstanding American rifts might be joined and healed—and the progressive Democratic response—that is the real heart of this year’s presidential campaign. 

In the Rob Reiner movie The Princess Bride—as well as the William Goldman book that preceded it—Westley the farmboy (disguised as the Man in Black) is climbing up the Cliffs of Insanity in pursuit of three men who have kidnapped his girlfriend. Impatient for Westley to get to the top of the cliff so he can kill him in a sword fight, one of the kidnappers—Inigo—offers to throw down a rope to help him up. When Westley declines on the grounds that this might be a trick, Inigo promises not to kill him until he reaches the top of the cliff and offers to give his word “as a Spaniard.” “No good,” Westley calls back up. “I’ve known too many Spaniards.” 

With apologies to my Spanish brothers and sisters, who are no more likely to be untrue to their words than the rest of us—or less likely, for that matter—this remains one of my favorite lines of a funny movie and book. 

I was reminded of Westley’s words during last week’s Republican National Convention when vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin was talking about her small-town roots, saying that “a writer observed: ‘We grow good people in our small towns, with honesty, sincerity, and dignity.’ I know just the kind of people … I grew up with those people. They are the ones who do some of the hardest work in America, who grow our food, run our factories, and fight our wars. They love their country, in good times and bad, and they’re always proud of America. I had the privilege of living most of my life in a small town.”  

Ms. Palin called out Barack Obama’s now infamous comment made to a San Francisco fundraiser that after falling through the cracks of the Clinton and Bush administrations, “it’s not surprising” that small-town residents “get bitter [and] cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.” Ms. Palin implied that this was hypocrisy on Mr. Obama’s part, adding that “we”—meaning the people of small towns—“tend to prefer candidates who don’t talk about us one way in Scranton and another way in San Francisco.” 

I spent more than a third of my adult life in small towns, some of them so small that they were not even towns, and it took a 10-mile ride to come to the nearest traffic signal. I love small-town people to death, and there a part of my heart forever lies. But forgive me if I fail to fall for Ms. Palin’s frothy narrative of small-town America as something like a magic kingdom out of a fairy tale, where the good and virtuous ever dwell. Sorry folks. I’ve known too many small-town people. They’re pretty much like all the rest of us. Some of them half good. Some of them half bad. And some of them fairly horrible. 

But the Palin small-town narrative—written by high-level Republican speech writers but almost certainly reflecting Ms. Palin’s politics—is the one of the keys to understanding the Republican success in American elections over the past 30 years and how difficult it is for our Democratic friends to overcome. 

In this strategy, our Republican friends wrap themselves in some fabric of Americana, raise it to iconic status, set it at odds with some loosely defined “other,” and use the resulting conflict to deflect any criticism of their own actions and turn any resentments back upon the critics themselves. 

One of the most brilliant parts of this Republican strategy is that there is no real need for its architects to be members of the group or class into which they have identified themselves. Certainly Sarah Palin is a legitimate small-town product. But many Republican leaders are actually members of the “other” of which they take such delight in attacking. Their actions and allegiances may be entirely contrary to the narrative they are promoting. But those little details are lost in the stirring of patriotic music and the marching of many unsuspecting feet.  

In addition, the Republican strategy of a constant “us against them” strategy is that neither the “us” nor the “them” needs to be carefully defined or the lines closely drawn, because it plays upon the natural human desire of wishing to belong. Like the shifting ice floes in the melting Arctic, the grounds upon which the “us” and the “them” stand are always shifting, but it rarely seems to matter. Consistency has no currency in this world view. 

Thus, few at last week’s Republican convention stopped to see the irony of the fact that only weeks before our Republican friends were wrapping themselves in small-town values, the McCain campaign—in its famous “Celebrity” ad against Mr. Obama—was using Britney Spears as an example of something to be avoided. Ms. Spears was chosen as one of the two celebrity cameos in the ad because after adopting her as our pop culture darling for so many years, America has turned on her when she cracked under the pressure of trying to live up to iconic celebrity, reeling back and forth between drug use and short-spaced marriages and erratic behavior. Ms. Spears, a rural Louisiana native, is a product of small-town Southern America, and there is an implied old “white trash” anti-Southern bias in the national commentary on her travails (aren’t they always running around, getting drunk, and not taking proper care of their children?).  

Meanwhile, Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Cynthia Tucker correctly pointed out the double-standard conservative commentator Bill O’Reilly had over the respective unwed pregnancies of Ms. Spears’ teenage sister, Jamie Lynn, and Ms. Palin’s teenage daughter, Bristol. 

Last December, reacting to Ms. Spears’ pregnancy, Mr. O’Reilly said in commentary, “On the pinhead front, 16-year-old Jamie Lynn Spears is pregnant. The sister of Britney says she is shocked. I bet. Now most teens are pinheads in some ways. But here the blame falls primarily on the parents of the girl, who obviously have little control over her or even over Britney Spears. Look at the way she behaves.” 

But on Sept. 3, Mr. O’Reilly had a far different take when discussing Ms. Palin’s daughter. “Certainly the public has a right to know about Governor Palin’s life, and there are legitimate questions about her family’s situation, but Americans are very protective of families in general. … Millions of American families are dealing with teenage pregnancy. And as long as society doesn’t have to support the mother, father or baby, it is a personal matter. Once the taxpayers do have to support the young family, it becomes a public policy matter. … It is true that some Americans will judge Governor Palin and her family. There’s nothing anyone can do about it. … For the sake of her and her family, we hope things calm down.” 

What is to be noted here is not simply the shifting ground of standards, but the cleverly coded message—words used as stepping stones that pave the pathway to get there. 

Mr. O’Reilly says the public discussion of a teenage pregnancy becomes proper “only so long as society doesn’t have to support…” That, of course, is aimed at poor people and welfare recipients, charter members of the Republican “other.” That the Spears family is pretty much dripping in money, and is no threat to ask for a government check, is conveniently overlooked in Mr. O’Reilly’s division, nor does it matter to his many listeners.  

In addition, note Mr. O’Reilly’s use of the word “family,” which is a major center of the conservative-Republican iconic constellation. Three times in discussing the pregnancy of Ms. Palin’s daughter, Mr. O’Reilly pairs the Alaskan governor with “her family.” But in discussing the Spears, it is simply, impersonally “the parents of the girl,” as if the Fox commentator were talking about a couple of brood sows and their piglet. It is easier to keep the Spears at arms-length and away from all sympathy if they aren’t described as a “family,” even a dysfunctional one. 

Similar is the line in Ms. Palin’s acceptance speech in her description of small-town America, in which she asserts that “they’re always proud of America.” If she is talking about our small-town conservative friends, that, of course, is not true. From the Congress to the President to the courts—at least before the courts were put in conservative Republican hands—small-town conservatives forever rail against American institutions, its leaders, and its policies, in barber and beauty shops, on the steps of their churches, and in the editorial and letters pages of their newspapers. They are certainly, as a whole, proud of the American ideal and the American promise. They are not always so crazy about American practices. In that, small-town Americans are pretty much like the rest of us. 

But it’s a flag-and-country-wrapping exercise that Ms. Palin promotes. To criticize her, following her acceptance speech embrace, is to criticize small-towns, something Democrats cannot do without surrendering the presidency for another term. And to criticize small towns is to criticize both “small-town values,” whatever they are supposed to be and however they are supposed to be differentiated from “big-town values.” But since Ms. Palin equates small-town values with pride in America, criticism of Ms. Palin becomes the first step on the road to an attack on America itself. 

It is a clever trap, and except for the Clinton years and the Carter interlude, it has worked for our Republican friends since the days of Mr. Nixon, the Great Divider. 

How to avoid that trap is the great progressive challenge of our time. In the last several years, at least, we haven’t done so good at meeting it. But perhaps the times have changed.

The corvid family continues to surprise. The remarkable cognitive abilities of these birds—ravens, crows, jays, and kin—have been well documented. The Clark’s nutcracker, a jaylike bird, stores thousands of pine-nut caches each fall and is able to relocate them under a blanket of winter snow. Ravens use insight rather than trial-and-error to retrieve chunks of salami dangling from strings. New Caledonian crows fashion leaves into tools to probe rotting wood for tasty grubs. Steller’s jays have been observed brandishing pointed sticks as weapons. 

Now there are reports of a bird that can recognize its own image in a mirror. And it’s a corvid, of course; apologies to the parrots. 

The mark test is supposed to be a hallmark of self-awareness, a trait we humans shared with (up to now) an elite group of fellow mammals. Researchers paint or attach a colored mark on the forehead of the subject, then show it its mirrored reflection. If the animal touches the spot on its own head, it is presumably identifying the creature in the mirror as itself. Chimpanzees, bonobos, and orangutans do this; monkeys don’t. (Results with gorillas and gibbons were inconclusive). Self-recognition has also been claimed for bottle-nosed dolphins and Asian elephants, although I’m not sure how the dolphins managed to touch their foreheads. 

It was only recently that anyone tried this with a bird. A team led by Helmut Prior at Goethe University in Frankfurt decided to work with Eurasian magpies, black-and-white corvids very similar to California’s endemic yellow-billed magpie. (Magpie taxonomy is in flux. The North American and Eurasian black-billed magpies are now considered distinct species, and the yellow-billed may be a subspecies of the North American black-billed.) 

In the initial exposure to their reflections, some of the lab magpies seemed uninterested. Others threatened their mirror images, and one male, Harvey, tried to court his. The researchers then attached red or yellow marks to the magpies’ black chest feathers and presented them with the mirror again.  

Responses were mixed, but two females, Gerti and Goldie, pecked at the mark on their own bodies or touched it with a foot, as if to say “What the hell is this?” None touched the mark in the mirror. Birds that received a black mark, invisible against their feathers, didn’t react to it. “Altogether,” concluded Prior and his colleagues, “results show that magpies are capable of understanding that a mirror image belongs to their own body.” That would put them on our side of what the researchers call “the cognitive Rubicon.” 

Self-recognition in apes, dolphins, and elephants had been credited to a part of the mammalian brain called the neocortex. But avian brains lack this structure. Somehow, magpies have evolved a parallel mental mechanism, just as birds and bats separately evolved the ability to fly.  

Meanwhile, biologists in Seattle have been running their own behavioral experiments with American crows. The results seem to show that crows can recognize individual human faces, and are prone to hold grudges.  

John Marzluff, a biologist at the University of Washington, assigned two groups of his students to wear masks in the presence of a population of crows. Students with what is described as a caveman mask trapped, banded, and otherwise annoyed the crows. (I have to assume this was a caveman of the Neanderthal persuasion, not a Cro-Magnon.) The other students, who just hung out among the crows, wore a Dick Cheney mask. 

Now if these birds were truly intelligent, you would expect them to single out the wearers of the Cheney mask for abuse. In fact, they concentrated their fire on the caveman mask. At one point Marzluff walked across campus with his cave face on and was scolded by 47 of the 53 crows he encountered—far more than the victims or witnesses of the original trapping exercise, as if word had gotten around. 

Marzluff repeated the study with more realistic masks, representing neither primitive hominids nor the vice president. Again, the crows chose to harass the mask that they associated with capture and banding. Interestingly, Seattle crows, not accustomed to being shot at, swooped close to the mask-wearers, while rural crows cursed them from a safe distance. 

In a way, this is less impressive than Gerti the magpie recognizing herself in the mirror. Other birds, including the relatively thick western gull, have displayed similar abilities to remember individual human faces. You can see the advantage for corvids, though. These are highly social birds, involved in a complex set of relationships with family members, neighbors, and occasional roostmates. It would pay to be able to pick out faces in the crowd. 

Crows might also benefit from recognizing individuals of other species. For an opportunistic scavenger, there’s an advantage to knowing which predator will tolerate their presence at the kill, and which will swat them out of the way.

Water conservation is a global warming issue and an energy issue and a cost issue. It’s global and it’s local. It’s a water availability issue and a pollution issue. The population of the planet was estimated at 6.2 billion in 2000 and expected to increase by 3 billion by 2025 (mostly in the developing world, of course, since we’re not allowed to talk about birth control or distribute condoms). That’s only 16 years from now.  

Many, if not most of the things that we need to do to stave off the ruin of our communities are within our grasp. Simple things like eating less beef and taking shorter showers. It’s hard to imagine how these things affect our atmosphere and the lives of people living in distant places but the work world is getting smaller and smaller and the planetary impact of everyday activities is becoming more discernible as the days pass. 

It may be surprising to learn (well, I was surprised, anyway) that toilets use 30-40 percent of the water in our homes, far exceeding all other single activities. Delivering water takes energy, electricity to be specific, since it’s pumped to our homes from great distances.  

While we do take advantage of the natural fall from the Sierras, we still use over 10 percent of our total state energy budget moving water. Making electricity generates carbon in many cases (we do have some hydroelectric power in the state as well as some nuclear) and this increases global warming as well as the acidity of the oceans just to mention two of the effects we’re aware of. 

As of Aug. 1 this year, East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) has us on a Drought Emergency Rate Schedule for water service. You’ve probably heard. Families will be expected to keep their use under 172 gallons per day or pay at a higher rate. The base rate is $2/100 cubic feet of water and goes up to as much as $3.05 if you can’t get your teenager out of the shower in something under an hour. 

With all this in mind, I suggest that you take on the, relatively simple, task of replacing one or more of your toilets. It’s actually not that hard. 

First, let’s take a look at low-flow toilets. I’d like to talk a little about them primarily because there are concerns about their effectiveness that I would like to dispel. The old guard of toilets from before the 1950s used roughly seven gallons per flush or over four times the current models. Toilets improved in water efficiency over the decades decreasing to 5.5, then 3.5 and eventually to our current 1.6 gallon models. There are even dual-flush models (developed originally in Australia where water conservation is a very big deal). These units allow you to designate what kind of deposit you’d like to make and potentially use less than a gallon for liquid equity investments. These are really worth looking at and it’s a very easy adjustment to make (several types already exist and they’re at the store waiting for you right now). 

While the early low-flow toilets often suffered from two-flush syndrome (they didn’t really flush effectively), most of our current stock are very effective as the industry has been forced to address these issues due to a huge financial incentive (how many toilets get sold each year?). 

Replacing a toilet is a relatively simple job in many but not all cases. If you have a house from before 1915, you may have a more complex job facing you and in any event it’s a good idea to be prepared to call an experienced plumber if you get stuck but this is very likely a job you can get through without calling for help if you have a modicum of experience with screwdrivers and pry-bars. 

Before you go shopping, measure the distance from the center of the toilet outflow at the base to the wall. There are usually two screws (sometimes covered with caps) located just to the right and left of the centerline of the outflow at the base. This is usually about 12 inches but you want to be sure. Modern toilets are often smaller than older toilets in this regard and end up with a gap at the back when replacing older ones. This isn’t a crisis but it’s good to plan ahead. 

If you shop at the better plumbing outfits, like Moran Supply or Rubenstein’s (both in Oakland), they will be able to give you very specific information about fit. At the dreaded big-box stores, which will remain nameless, you’ll be lucky to find the toilet you wanted in stock. I strongly recommend calling in advance to be sure there are several of the model you need. Consider a Toto as they’re on the best toilets on the market. Kohler and American Standard also make good quality china, while Gerber, Eljer and Briggs also make a valid contribution to this growing market (It’s hard to go wrong selling toilets!). 

Once you’ve picked out your model, be sure to also buy a new flexible water connector. There is one that is specifically for toilets, so be sure that the store gives you the right one. A good trick is to take the old one with you to be sure you have the right fittings on both ends. Some older shut-off valves (that the little valve near the floor that feeds water to the toilet) have oddly sized outputs and you want to be sure that your connector fits. Get it a little longer than you think you’ll need. This can prevent screaming plumber syndrome (not to mention saving gas not used going back to the store one more time). 

I actually favor replacement of this little shut-off valve if it doesn’t feel beyond your skill. When doing this, you’ll need to turn off the water to the house for a while and I would suggest you allow enough time to take the valve off and take it to the store. Again, this increases the likelihood that you’ll come back with the right one. 

The new toilet should be assembled according to the instructions (most need some assembly although many single piece toilets are ready to install right out of the box) and test fitted where the old toilet sat. When you unbolt the old toilet (it’s usually just two screws on the base (these may be under plastic or ceramic caps that you have to “pop” off with a screwdriver or putty knife) take a good look at the bottom and see how it fits. Look at the remains of the old wax ring and see what type it was. There are some that use only wax and some that include a plastic funnel shaped piece that is nested into the wax. 

Many older toilets used only wax and when plastic is used, you must be sure that is not inhibited and has a good seating because these can actually cause leaks. I usually buy one of each just to be sure and they cost so little that it’s not worth another trip to the store (have you detected a pattern here?). Actually, I usually buy two of the plain wax rings because they can be stacked for a better fit when the “flange” or ring the toilet will rest upon is much lower than the little snout on the bottom of the toilet. It’s not a big deal to use too much wax because it will just smoosh out when you seat the new one. 

It’s also a very good idea to get a new set of toilet bolts, nuts and caps (or covers). By removing the old toilet before you shop, you can remove the bolts and nuts from the old flange and take them with you. There are two common sizes and the person at the store can help you get the right ones. As soon as you see these two common sizes, you’ll know which one you need. Get two sets of washers so that one can be set on top of the flange and another on top of the base of the toilet. Install the bolts so that they stick straight up on the exact right and left of the hole in the flange (where the ‘gators come out). There are semi-circular slots with an entry point that is about 30º around from the place where they belong. When you remove the old ones you’ll see how this works. You put them into the opening and slide them around to the right spot and then tighten up a barbed washer or a small nut (depending on which you buy) that will hold the bolt upright. Then place the wax ring you’ve chosen right on top of the flange. Again, you’ll see that there is a specific place for it to sit and then … pick up the toilet and lower it carefully down onto the two bolts and the wax ring. A second person makes this easier especially if one can hold the toilet while the second guides it down (sort of a orbital docking kind of thing). 

At this point, I usually straddle the toilet and rock it gently until I’ve smooshed the wax enough to just reach the floor. One this is accomplished, you can put on a washer and nut on either side followed by plastic cap. (Note: most plastic caps have a base that goes under the washer and the nut so get the order right). 

Lastly, you can replace the valve if you bought one and the install the replacement flexible connector. Most replacement connectors come with rubber seals installed in either end. Make sure that they are there before you leave the store and again before you install. This is yet another scream inducer and gas waster. Also, I recommend that you use a metal covered “no-burst” connector to decrease the likelihood of a leak. 

There you have it. A way to save upwards of 25 percent of your water bill if the statisticians are correct. 

We’re all going to have to get used to much higher water cost and greatly increased water conservation over the coming decades. Changing toilets is easy and relatively cheap (do-it-yourselfers will generally pay under $250). Getting your teen out of the that shower in under an hour? When I figure that out, I’ll get back to you. 

THURSDAY, SEPT. 11 

THEATER 

San Francisco Mime Troupe “Red State” at 7 p.m. at Lake Merritt, Oakland. Free, donations accepted. 415-285-1717. www.sfmt.org 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Human Remains” Art influenced by the Iraq war opens at Float Art Gallery, 1091 Calcot Place, Unit # 116, Oakland. 535-1702. 

Pro Arts New Visions 2008 Group Show Artists’ reception at 6 p.m. at Pro Arts Gallery, 550 Second St., Oakland, and runs through Oct. 24. www.proartsgallery.org 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Writin’ on Empty: Parents Reveal the Upside, Downside, and Everything in Between When Children Leave the Nest” at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

New Century Chamber Orchestra “Nadja Plays Piazzolla” The Sounds of Brazil and Argentina with Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, violin, at 8 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing Way. Tickets are $32-$45. 415-357-1111.  

Phoenix & Afterbuffalo at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10-$20 sliding scale. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Berkeley Old Time Music Convention with Sheila Kay Adms, Evo Bluestein, and the Stairwell Sisters at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $15.50-$16.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

John Herbst’s “Epicenter” at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

The Marlenes at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Lady Genius The Parish, Sweetie at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $8. 841-2082.  

Charles Wheal at 10 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790.  

Bill Collins 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. 

James Carter at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10-$20. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

FRIDAY, SEPT. 12 

THEATER 

Aurora Theatre “The Best Man” Wed.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 and 7 p.m. at 2081 Addison St. through Sept. 28. Tickets are $40-$42. 843-4822. www.auroratheatre.org 

Berkeley Rep “Yellowjackets” by Itamar Moses, a Berkeley resident, set at Berkeley High School, Tues.-Sun. at the Thrust Stage, 2025 Addison St., through Oct. 12. Tickets are $27-$71. 647-2949. berkeleyrep.org 

Impact Theatre “Ching Chong Chinaman” Thurs.-Sat at 8 p.m. at La Val’s Subterranean, to Oct. 11. Tickets are $10-$17. 464-4468. impacttheatre.com 

Masquers Playhouse “The Petrified Forest” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2:30 p.m. at 105 Park Place, Point Richmond, through Sept. 27. Tickets are $18. 232-4031. www.masquers.org 

Oakland Public Theater, “Before the Dream: The mysterious death (and life) of Richard Wright” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m. at the Noodle Factory Performing Arts Center, 1255 26th St., corner of Union, Oakland, through Oct. 5. Tickets are $9-$20. 534-9529. www.brownpapertickets.com 

Rough and Tumble “Candide” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun at 7 p.m. at Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave. through Sept. 21. Tickets are $16-$22. 499-0356. www.randt.org 

Shotgun Players “Ubu for President” An adaptation of the plays of Alfred Jarry, Sat. and Sun. at 4 p.m. at John Hinkel Park, Southampton Ave., off the Arlington, through Sept. 14. Free, donations accepted. 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org 

Woodminster Summer Musicals “The Pirates of Penzance” Fri.-Sun. at 8 p.m., at Woodminster Amphitheater in Joaquin Miller Park, 3300 Joaquin Miller Rd., Oakland. through Sept. 15. Tickets are $23-$38. 531-9597. www.woodminster.com 

FILM 

“Pennies From Heaven” View and discuss the archetypal, mythic, depth psychological dimensions af the film at 7 p.m. at The Dream Institute, 1672 University near McGee. Cost is $12. 845-1767. 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Contemporary Abstracts” Works by Susan Putnam, Leslie Carabas, Cathy Coe, Mary DePaolo and Mitchel Rubin. Opening reception at 6 p.m. at ACCI Gallery, 1652 Shattuck Ave. Exhibition runs to Oct. 5. 843-2527. 

“Goddesses” Prints by Mayumi Oda Artist’s talk at 5:30 p.m. at IEAS Gallery, 2223 Fulton St. 6th flr. 643-6536. 

Eth6 Magazine Issue 3:Contributing Artist Exhibition Artist reception at 7 p.m. at blankspace, 6608 San Pablo Ave., Oakland. 547-6608. 

“Intimate Immensity” Paintings by Michael Shemchuk and soft sculpture and wearble art by Lori Goldman. Opening reception at 6 p.m. at Cecile Moochnek Gallery, 1809-D Fourth St., upstairs. Exhibit runs through Nov. 2. 549-1018. www.cecilemoochnek.com 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Cathy Barber, Arthur Dawson, Albert Flynn DeSilver, and others read as part of The Last Word Reading Series, at 7 p.m. at Nefeli Caffe, 1854 Euclid Ave, just north of Hearst. 841-6374. 

Christopher Grampp describes “From Yard to Garden: The Domestication of America’s Home Grounds” at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Point Richmond Summer Music with Gumbo West and Ed Early at 5:30 p.m. outdoors at Park Place in downtown Point Richmond. www.pointrichmond.com 

Kristen Strom & Jennifer Scott Quartet at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $12. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Donny McCaslin at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $12. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Creation, reggae, at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10-$13. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Judea Eden at 8 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Berkeley Old Time Music Convention with Benton Flippen, Paul Brown & Frank Bode, Claeb Klauder & Sammy Lind and Rayna Gellert at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $15.50-$16.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Nada Lewis, Eastern European, French and italian violin and accordian, at 7 p.m. at Le Bateau Ivre, 2629 Telegraph Ave. www.lebateauivre.net 

Dave Matthews Blues Band at 8 p.m. at The Warehouse Bar & Grill, 4th and Webster, Oakland. 451-3161. 

Locura, Sol Jibe, Maracatu Luta at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $10. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Ceremony, Foreign Nature, Crucified, benefit for EDS, at 7:30 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $8-$10. 525-9926. 

Green Machine at 10 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

The Itals at 9 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $13-$18. 548-1159.  

El Debarge at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, through Sun. Cost is $40. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

SATURDAY, SEPT. 13 

CHILDREN  

“The Girl Who Lost Her Smile” adapted from a poem by Rumi, at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. at Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Ave., Oakland. Cost is $6. 452-2259. www.fairyland.org 

“The Sleeping Giant: A Tale from Kaua’i” at 1 p.m. at Museum of Children’s Art, 538 Ninth St., Oakland. 465-8770. 

EXHIBITIONS 

Landscape and Urban Photography by Patrick Smith Opening reception at 3 p.m. at the LightRoom Gallery, 2263 Fifth St., and runs through Oct. 3. 649-8111. www.lightroom.com 

“Human Remains” Art influenced by the Iraq war. Requiem and performance at 6 p.m. at Float Art Gallery, 1091 Calcot Place, Unit # 116, Oakland. Cost is $2. 535-1702. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Places at the Table: Asian Women Artists and Gender Dynamics” A conference from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Berkeley Art Museum, 2621 Durant Ave. Free, but registration required. http://ieas.berkeley.edu/events/2008.09.13w.html 

Robert Scheer introduces his new book “Pornography of Power” at 7 p.m. at Alameda Free Library, Conf. Room A, 1550 Oak St., Alameda. Sponsored by Alameda Public Affairs Forum and Books Inc. donations at the door. alamedapublicaffairs@comcast.net 

Society of American Magicians “Stars of Magic” at 12:30 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $10-$14. 925-798-1300. www.willowstickets.org 

Deep Green Comedy Show at 8 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $10-$25. 925-798-1300. www.willowstickets.org 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra “Myth & the Muse” at 8 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing Way. For ticket information call 415-252-1288. 

Create for Change A Community music & arts festival to support Barack Obama, Move On and Rock the Vote with music by The Jolly Gibsons, Mo’Fone, Youngsters, EthNohTec, Joel Ben Izzy, from 2 to 6 p.m. at Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. Donation $20-$100. www.createforchange.org 

“Experience on the GreenChapter One” Performances by Roberta Flack, Patrice Rushen, Dr. Donald Byrd, Ray Parker Jr., Michael Henderson, drummer Ndugu Chancler, and Kevin Toney of the Blackbyrds at 2 p.m., doors at noon, at The Great Court Garden of the Oakland Museum, 1000 Oak St., Oakland. Tickets are $70-$125. 1-877-EXP-THE-GREEN. www.511Tickets.com, www.brownpapertickets.com. 

Amor Cubano, with music, performances, food and dancing at 7 p.m. at Pro Arts Gallery, 550 2nd St., Oakland. Cost is $10 and up. 590-6762. 

Sammy Figueroa and his Latin Jazz Explosion at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $16-$18. 849-2568.  

Ellen Hoffman Quartet featuring India Cooke at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $14. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Berkeley Old Time Music Convention Square Dance with Foghorn String Band, Benton Flippen, Paul Brown, Frank Bode & Friends, Squirrelly String Band. Clogging workshop at 7 p.m., Square Dance at 7:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $15, children 5-18 $5. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com  

Dya Singh at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761.  

Roger Rocha and the Golden hearts at 9:30 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790.  

“The Erotic Campaign” Performance by Frank Moore at 8 p.m. at Wildcat Studio, 2525 8th St., studio #15. 526-7858. fmoore@eroplay.com 

Steve Carter Jazz Trio at 9:30 p.m. at Albatross, 1822 San Pablo Ave. Cost is $3. 843-2473. www.albatrosspub.com 

Dylan, Val Esway and El Mirage, Joni Davis, Michael Hamm at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $10. 841-2082.  

Slydini at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

Floating Corpses, Hunx and his Punx, The No Gos 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. 

El Debarge at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, through Sun. Cost is $40. 238-9200.  

SUNDAY, SEPT. 14 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Aimee Suzara reads from her poems “The Space Between” at 7 p.m. at La Peña. Cost is $5-$8. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Matthew McKay reads from his novel “Wawona Hotel” at 4 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Memorial Concert for Jorge Liderman, featuring music by Liderman, at 2 p.m. at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. 642-9988. www.calperformances.net 

Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra “Myth & the Muse” at 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing Way. For ticket information call 415-252-1288. 

Betty Schneider & Her Trio at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Americana Unplugged at 5 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

Big Lou’s Polka Casserole at 5 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Pappa Gianni and the North Beach Band at 2 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Asher/LaMacchia at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

MONDAY, SEPT. 15 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Strictfathermodel” Works by Joseph Essoe Paintings, photographs, sculpture and video. Opens at 21 Grand, 416 25th St. at Broadway, Oakland. www.21grand.org 

“Heads Up” Faces featured in canvas, drawings and sculpture, opens at The Ames Gallery, 2661 Cedar St. Mon.-Fri. 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., through Dec. 31. 845-4949. 

“Love Never Fails” Works by Kelvin Curry opens at the Craft & Cultural Arts Gallery, State of California Office Bldg., 1515 Clay St., Oakland. 622-8190. 

Berkeley High School Art Teachers Exhibition on display to Oct. 17 at Addison Street Windows Gallery, 2018 Addison St. 981-7546. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Jon Carroll in Conversation with Anne Lamott at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Rep, 2025 Addison St. Tickets are $25. Benefit for Park Day School. 653-0317, ext. 103. 

Thanks to Berkeley Poetry Reading with Robert Hass, faculty, students and staff at noon in Sproul Plaza. 643-0421. 

Poetry Express with John Moore of San Jose at 7 p.m. at Priya Restaurant, 2072 San Pablo Ave. 644-3977. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Trovatore, traditional Italian music, at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Richard Julian and Bhi Bjiman at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage Coffee House. Cost is $14.50-$15.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Downtown Jam Session with Glen Pearson at 7 p.m. at Ed Kelly Hall, Oakland Public Conservatory of Music, 1616 Franklin St., Oakland. Cost is $5. www.opcmucsic.org 

Shaynee Rainbolt: A Tribute to Russ Garcia at 8 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $16. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

TUESDAY, SEPT. 16 

CHILDREN 

Randel McGee & Groark the Dragon, puppeteer/ventriloquist at 6:30 p.m. at Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave. For ages 3 and up. 524-3043. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Freight and Salvage Open Mic at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $4.50-$5.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

“Best American Poetry 2008” with contributors Robert Hass, Michael Palmer, D.A. Powell, and Chad Sweeney at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Courtableu at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cajun dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Singers’ Open Mic with Ellen Hoffman at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $5. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Susan Rancourt at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Steve Lucky & the Rhumba Bums at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $7-$14. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

Jazzschool Tuesdays, a weekly showcase of up-and-coming ensembles from Berkeley Jazzschool at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 17 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Human Form in a Wild World” Mixed-media works by Louise Greenberg. Reception at 4 p.m. at Bucci’s, 6121 Hollis St., Emeryville. Exhibit runs to Oct. 10. 547-4725. 

FILM 

“Canto a lo Poeta: Poet Songs” A documentary about La Paya, improvisational singing in Chile at 8 p.m. at La Peña. Cost is $8-$10. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Latino Film Festival “Brassier de Emma” at 6:30 p.m. at Richmond Public Library, Madeline F. Whittlesey Community Room, 325 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond. Free. 620-6561. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Poetry Flash with Robert Hass, Maxine Hong Kingston and Fred Marchant reading from William Stafford’s “Another World Instead” at 7:30 p.m. at Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave. 849-2087. 

Cafe Poetry at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Berkeley Poetry Slam with host Charles Ellik and Three Blind Mice, at 8:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $7. 841-2082 .www.starryploughpub.com 

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. 

Wednesday Noon Concert, with Marié Abe and Mils Bultmann at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. Free. 642-4864. http://music.berkeley.edu 

The Wee Trio at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Helenicks, Greek songs, at 7 p.m. at Le Bateau Ivre, 2629 Telegraph Ave. www.lebateauivre.net 

Whiskey Brothers, old-time and bluegrass at 9 p.m. at Albatross, 1822 San Pablo Ave. 843-2473. www.albatrosspub.com 

Helladelics/Edessa at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Balkan dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

La Verdad at 9:30 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Salsa dance lessons at 8:30 p.m. Cost is $5-$10. 548-1159.  

The Invaders at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

Steppin In It at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Kanda Bongo Man at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $12-$20. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

THURSDAY, SEPT. 18 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Love Never Fails” Works by Kelvin Curry. Opening reception at 5 p.m. at the Craft & Cultural Arts Gallery, State of California Office Building - Atrium, 1515 Clay St., Oakland. 622-8190. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Unni Wikan reads from “In Honor of Fadime: Murder and Shame” at 6 p.m. at University Press Books, 2430 Bancroft Way. 548-0585. www.universitypressbooks.com 

Susan Dunlop reads from “Hungry Ghosts” the second installment in her Darcy Lott mystery series, at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

Jeff Conant discusses his new book “A Community Guide to Environmental Health” at 7 p.m. at Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave. 548-3402. www.ecologycenter.org 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Willy Porter at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $19.50-$20.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Gerald Beckett Quartet at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Berklee Latin Jazz All-Stars at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $10. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

The Dance, Dorado, Sean Hodge with High Heat, funk, rock at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $5. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Tracy Sirota at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

The Gibson Brothers, Homespun Rowdy at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $10. 841-2082 www.starryploughpub.com 

“Encuentros 2: Dispatches from the Queer Borderlands” at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $10-$15. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

The Sacred Profanities at 10 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

Kanda Bongo Man at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $12-$20. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

FRIDAY, SEPT. 19 

THEATER 

Aurora Theatre “The Best Man” Wed.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 and 7 p.m. at 2081 Addison St. through Sept. 28. Tickets are $40-$42. 843-4822. www.auroratheatre.org 

Berkeley Rep “Yellowjackets” by Itamar Moses, a Berkeley resident, set at Berkeley High School, Tues.-Sun. at the Thrust Stage, 2025 Addison St., through Oct. 12. Tickets are $27-$71. 647-2949. berkeleyrep.org 

California Conservatory Theatre “They’re Playing Our Song” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., 2 p.m. on Sat. and Sun. at 999 East 14th St, San Leandro City Hall Complex, near BART, through Oct. 12. Tickets are $20-$22. 632-8850. www.cct-sl.org 

Impact Theatre “Ching Chong Chinaman” Thurs.-Sat at 8 p.m. at La Val’s Subterranean, to Oct. 11. Tickets are $10-$17. 464-4468. impacttheatre.com 

Masquers Playhouse “The Petrified Forest” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2:30 p.m. at 105 Park Place, Point Richmond, through Sept. 27. Tickets are $18. 232-4031. www.masquers.org 

Oakland Public Theater, “Before the Dream: The mysterious death (and life) of Richard Wright” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m. at the Noodle Factory Performind Arts Center, 1255 26th St., corner of Union, Oakland, through Oct. 5. Tickets are $9-$20. 534-9529. www.brownpapertickets.com 

Rough and Tumble “Candide” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun at 7 p.m. at Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave. through Sept. 21. Tickets are $16-$22. 499-0356. www.randt.org 

Shotgun Players “Vera Wilde” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m. at The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave. Tickets are $17-$25. 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Portraits of Diversity” Works by Rita Sklar. Reception at 4 p.m. at LunchStop Cafe, Joseph P. Bort MetroCenter, 101 Eighth St., Oakland. 817-5773. www.ritasklar.com 

“And Thus ... Accordingly” Works from found materials by Robert Armstrong on display from 1 to 5 p.m. Fri.-Sun. at Garage Gallery, Berkeley Outlet, 3110 Wheeler St. near Ashby and Shattuck. 549-2896. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Mark Richardson reads from “Zen and Now: On the Trail of Robert Pirsig and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

“Sex for America” An anthology of eroica inspired by Capitol Hill with Stephen Elliott, Daphne Gottleib and Sarah Fran Wisby at 7:30 p.m. at Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck Ave. 649-1320. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Lantana Koto Ensemble, Japanese and American ensemble in a concert of contemporary works composed and arranged for the traditional Japanese instruments at 8 p.m. at the Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. Tickets are $10-$15. 845-1350. www.hillsideclub.org/concerts.htm 

Schola Cantorum San Francisco “Western Wind, When Will Thou Blow?” at 8 p.m. at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 2300 Bancroft Way. Tickets are $12-$15, 18 and under, free. www.scholasf.org 

11th Annual Music for People & Thingamajigs Festival Artists working with made/found objects, at 8 p.m. at 21 Grand, 416 25th St., Oakland. Cost is $10-$15 sliding scale. 444-1322. reserve@thingamajigs.org 

Andrew McKnight, guitar, accompanied by bassist Sean Kelly at 7:30 p.m. at Unity of Berkeley, 2075 Eunice St. Suggested donation $10-$20. 528-8844. 

Chad Manning, Jody Stecher & Keith Little at 8 p.m. at First Unitarian Church of Oakland, 685 14th St., Oakland. Tickets are $10-$18. www.utunescoffeehouse.org 

Otmaro Ruiz Group at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $20. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Pamela Rose & Her Quartet at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $14. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Entrenos, Aquarela, Brazilian, at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10-$12. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Tamra Engle at 8 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Steve Seskin, Allen Shamblin & Chuck Jones at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $22.50-$23.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

The Patrick Winningham Band, Glider, Aiden Hawken at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $15. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Sabertooth Zombie, Zann, Graf Orlock 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. 

The PPL at 10 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

Anthony B, Rootz Underground, reggae, at 9 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $20-$25. 548-1159.  

Amel Larrieux at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, through Sun. Cost is $26. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

SATURDAY, SEPT. 20 

CHILDREN  

“Aesop’s Fables” at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. at Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Ave., Oakland. Cost is $6. 452-2259. www.fairyland.org 

FILM 

Jewish Film Series “Two Minutes from Faradis” at 7 p.m. at Temple Israel, 3183 Mecartney Rd., Alameda. Cost is $10. 522-9355. 

EXHIBITIONS 

Pro Arts New Visions 2008 Group Show Artists’ Talk at 1 p.m. at Pro Arts Gallery, 550 Second St., Oakland, and runs through Oct. 24. www.proartsgallery.org 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Tim Porter describes “Organic Marin: Recipes from Land to Table” at 4 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Grosse Abfahrt with Tom Djll, Fred Frith and others at 8 p.m. at Trinity Chapel, 2320 Dana St. Tickets are $8-$12. 549-3864. www.trinitychamberconcerts.com 

“In Magdalene’s Garden” A vespers benefit for Katrina Tree Recovery at 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley. Proceeds will go to planting trees in the Gulf region devastated by the hurricane. 653-7196. www.sagrada.com 

Hillbillies from Mars at 3 p.m. at Wisteria Ways, outside venue, 383 61st St., Oakland. Bring something to sit on. Donation $15-$20. RSVP to info@WisteriaWays.org 

Grupo Araucaria in a celebration of Chilean Independence Day at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $12. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Robin Gregory & Her Trio at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $12. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Samba Ngo at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $12-$15. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com  

Josh Jones Trio at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

Lost Weekend at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $20.50-$21.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Joseph Israel, Lafa Taylor at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $10. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Jazz Fourtet at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Amel Larrieux in a benefit for La Clinica de La Raza at 6:30 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $26. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

Phobia, In Disgust, Semetex Vest, Godstomper 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, SEPT. 21 

CHILDREN 

Gallery of Thingamajigs Explore sounds produced by unusual instruments created from found materials, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 10 and Oak, Oakland. Cost is $5-$8. 238-2200. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

11th Annual Music for People & Thingamajigs Artists working with made/found objects, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St., Oakland. 444-1322. reserve@thingamajigs.org 

Rudolf Buchbinder, piano, at 3 p.m. at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $46. 642-9988. www.calperformances.net 

Art Song Recital with Angela Arnold, soprano, and Jeffrey Sykes, piano at 2 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley. Free. 848-3696.  

Jazz at the Chimes featuring Vive Le Jazz at 2 p.m. at Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave., Oakland. Tickets are $10-$15 at the door. Children under 12 free. 228-3218. 

Terroritmo, música latina cumbia, salsa, reggaton, at 8 p.m. at La Peña. Cost is $5-$7. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Alexa Weber Morales Quartet at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Kim Nalley at 4:30 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $15-$18. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Americana Unplugged at 5 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

Chirgilchin, Tuvan throat singing at 7 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $15-$20. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Gandalf Murphy & the Slambovian Circus of Dreams at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

“C’mon, man. I’m just playin’. I ain’t got no knife!” Yellowjackets, set at Berkeley High, opens on the Berkeley Rep Thrust Stage with two students at their desks, side by side, at the beginning of the school year, with Annie Smart’s set of a frieze of a slave from antiquity, blowing a clarion, and much-tagged murals above a cyclone fence, with lockers to the side. 

The bigger student (Guillem, played by Brian Rivera) asks the other’s name. “Trevor,” he says (Craig Piaget). “What kind of name is that?” And the hazing begins, with Guillem writing Trevor’s name on the desk, teasing him (Trevor nervous over being blamed for vandalism), finally—after some exaggerated, ambiguous threats—opening his hand to show a tagging pen instead of a blade. 

The sardonic odd couple never really come to grips with each other, setting off a periodic, minor flurry of incidents which underscore the main event and its repercussions in Itamar Moses’ new play, commissioned by The Rep and performed by a bright cast of younger local performers, many of whom were raised or schooled in Berkeley, directed by Rep Artistic Director Tony Taccone. 

The core incident of Yellowjackets, the Berkeley High team name, is two-fold and based on events when Moses attended there during the mid-’90s. A clash on campus (here a stroboscopically lit brawl between on and off-campus opponents, in which an administrator, trying to break it up, gets a broken arm instead) is reported in the student newspaper (The Jacket). The story is harshly criticized as insensitive by faculty members, who organize a boycott of the paper. The drama develops (with a considerable amount of humor) as Jacket staffers are caught in the middle and air or act out their own beefs, while other students (some of them actors in or witnesses to the incident), parents and faculty members navigate through the ever-more treacherous maze of reactions, repercussions and misunderstandings that turn an open campus into a closed one, bringing to light—and often twisting—dormant attitudes which set liberal-minded characters at odds with members of the minorities they thought they favored. Strife bursts out both openly in groups or in quiet, personal conversations that escalate into fierce debate, derogation, denial. 

Yellowjackets is episodic; the string of scenes snakes around, and frays a little. Its free, modular form embodies the quick, energetic (or slower, more morose) incidents in the teenagers’ lives, how they’re elliptically related—and, ironically, how school dices them up into seemingly discrete segments. Moses has said he wanted to write something like an epic, and Yellowjackets has something of that torrential quality, a rush of actions in which a number of tableaux stand out, emblematically, like the “playful” hazing scene at the top, or when brawler Damian (Shoresh Alaudini, in an exceptional performance) is grilled by the hurt administrator (Alex Curtis as Mr. Franks) and his own brother (Lance Gardner, who finely renders Rashid’s character), a campus security officer, later revealed to have destroyed copies of Huckleberry Finn while a student. 

(It’s no mistake that Moses chose Mark Twain’s masterpiece as an unseen realia—an object that occasions dramatic action, like Yorick’s skull or the swords and poisoned cup in Hamlet. Besides being the focus of the ongoing controversy over the role of race and inflammatory language in the book, Huck Finn is the American epic of youth adrift in the deadly contradictions of an adult world.)  

Moses has put both heart and soul into the play, and yet kept true authorial distance, remarkable in that he was Jacket editor at the time of the original incident and controversial story about it, leaving the Bay Area immediately after graduation. He strives to both unleash and yet dramatically harness all the energies, all the contradictions, implicit and explicit, around a situation which served as a watershed for a school that mirrored a community, which in turn reflected the struggles of society at large.  

It’s exhaustive, maybe dragged out, maybe needing cutting or rewriting before finding its ideal form—and maybe troubled by a kind of media feedback, dogged by an unwitting echo in certain respects from cable TV movies or miniseries.  

But, before anything else, Yellowjackets presents itself both boldly and intimately, and it’s very watchable (another media-coined word, alas!). Its triumph in its Rep staging is shared by the playwright and the 11-member cast with the theater that commissioned it, the cast doubling in playing both students and adults with extraordinary verve and commitment.  

On opening night, there was laughter and excited talk afterwards among Berkeley High alumni about the portraits—or caricatures—of teachers, especially. “Some real icons appear in the play,” Moses has said. Shoresh Alaudini, Jahmela Biggs, Alex Curtis, Ben Freeman, Lance Gardner, Amaya Alonso Hallifax, Kevin Hsieh, Adrienne Papp, Craig Piaget, Brian Rivera and Erika Salazar each deserve special mention, but even more so as an ensemble. 

It concludes uncompromisingly, yet poignantly, without nostalgia. Jacket editor Avi (Ben Freeman as Moses’ cognate), talking about leaving it all behind, is told by his visuals editor and sometime girlfriend Alexa, “You don’t have to stay here, but wherever you go, this’s where you’re fucking from!” Later, Damian, who’s slugged Avi in a quick, “blind” incident (the two don’t know each other), asks him his name—and then says, desultorily, “So, Avi, what now?”—as the lights go down. 

YELLOWJACKETS 

Tuesday-Sunday through Oct. 12 at  

Berkeley Rep, 2025 Addison St. $27-$71. 

647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org.

Walking up the path to Woodminster Amphitheatre, after parking on Joaquin Miller Road, a little bit past Woodminster Village in the Oakland hills—past the jets of the fountain and up along the torrential Cascade, spilling down through pools in Writers Grove along the beautiful man-made watercourse—is part of the enjoyment of going to see the summer musicals staged there, though there is a City of Oakland parking lot at the top available for $4. 

Through the oaks and redwoods, the sculptures on the back wall of the Amphitheatre quickly come into view, and the WPA origins of this site, constructed in 1939-40, in Joaquin Miller Park are made plain by the style of ornament. 

Once inside, it’s worth asking for a picnic table, if early; there are also some available for reservation through Oakland Parks & Rec and, within the theater, for a fee, from Producers Associates, the producer of the Summer Musicals. 

The vistas out through the trees, over the flats to—and across—the bay make for a perfect pre-show meal or get-together. (It’s family-friendly, with kids 16 and under free, with paying adult.)  

It’s a big amphitheatre, though the action’s plenty visible from the rim. Musicals are the fare at Woodminster, and, after Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Seussical, The Pirates of Penzance concludes the season, closing this weekend. 

The Pirates of Penzance is, of course, Gilbert & Sullivan and light (or comic) opera. This version of it was adapted by William Elliott to a more Broadway musical style for Joseph Papp’s New York Shakespeare Festival to commemorate the centennial of Pirates opening in America (staged in New York before London, on New Years Eve, 1879, ironically to head off piracy, considering the lack of American copyright protection). Though controversial with G & S purists, it ran 800 performances for Papp, once moved to Broadway itself, nominated for and winning Tonys, including its leads, Kevin Kline (award) and Linda Ronstadt (nominated). 

Since operetta is usually considered one point of origin for the musical, it’s interesting to see how Pirates is gathered into the Broadway fold. The result is a mixed bag. In the pit, Brandon Adams conducts an orchestra of 12 from Local 6. Many cast members have opera credits and background. There’s something in the rescoring, perhaps, that makes for a little fuzziness in some of the singing and much of the dynamics. In particular, the adroit G & S shifts from deadpan parody to arch comedy, galloping off into total burlesque (probably inspired by Offenbach) seldom come across so delectably, though spirited choruses of beautiful maidens and querulous cops—and some solid, knowing leads and character roles, especially Juliet Heller’s delightful Mabel and Carson Church’s Sergeant of Police—bridge the gap betwixt one stylized form (or its parody) and its looser godchild. Still, there’s some disparity; one spectator—a musician, though neither operatic nor cabaret, remarked that one singer sounded like a voice out of a Disney musical. 

But it’s all great fun, with an enthusiastic audience and a lot of juice up onstage, with a striking Pirate King (Robert Robinson), Gene Brundage singing that old chestnut “I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major General,” Heller’s splendid rendition of “Poor Wandering One!” to John Walbolt--and excellent production values (Robert Broadfoot, set designer), set off by Union Jack and Jolly Roger, as well as some new additions to Graciela Daniele’s choreography by Jody Jaron: the beautiful maidens spinning like demure dandelion fluff on the breeze, fretting if they should doff their hats and gloves (then getting down to petticoats); the truncheon-wielding bobbies spieling those lines poet Marianne Moore quoted as illustrative of satiric song: “And yet when someone’s near/We manage to appear/As unsusceptible to fear/As anybody here.” 

The very title, The Pirates of Penzance, is a G & S oxymoron, like saying “The Gang-Wars of Carmel.” In any form, it remains fun, tongue-in-cheek—and seeing it at Woodminster is like taking a quick vacation. 

PIRATES OF PENZANCE 

8 p.m. Sept. 11-14 at Woodminster Amphitheatre at Joaqin Miller Park, 3300 Joaqin Miller Road, Oakland. $23-38 (discounts for children and seniors; limited Kids Come Free program. 531-9597. www.woodminster.com.

Hedging, when I saw that Impact’s new production, Ching Chong Chinaman, was written by Lauren Yee, a San Francisco native, I said to myself, “It isn’t Sarah Silverman, so I guess I can review it.” 

But what’s wicked about the play isn’t the derisive title. It’s the satiric results of assimilation and a left-handed longing for tradition—any tradition—in a white bread (not white rice, though daughter Desdemona [Cindy Im] might opt for brown), chopstick-challenged suburbanite Chinese-American family, harboring an illegal alien as an indentured servant to teenage son Upton Sinclair Lewis Wong (Arthur Keng), who justifies exploitation by citing the Transcontinental Railway, giving Jin Qiang (the “Ching Chong” of the title) his math homework, while practicing up video games for a Xmas-time tournament in Seoul. 

It turns out to be a wild ride—fast, furious and very funny—as the well-matched cast of six takes it around the bend, ending up with Yuletide in Mexico over tequila, in search of supposed Hispanic roots dug up on the web, a baby on the way and further unsettling revelations of who begat whom, as well as championship dance routines to “Hernando’s Hideaway” as well as James Brown, featuring math-challenged Jin Qiang (Sung Min Park) and occupationally handicapped housewife mom Grace (Lisa Kang). 

As father, whose self-described job is keeping everyone happy, Ed (Dennis Yen) puts it perfectly when his daughter laments that her Princeton application may be trashed by the latest cross-ethnic revelation: “Who knows the difference? Nowadays, we’re all Asian!” 

There’s a wealth of throwaways adding to the hilarity, from offhandly camp Chinese Opera gestures to “Frosty the Snowman” in Cantonese, to daughter Desi’s reaction to the heartwarming angst after watching a DVD of Joy Luck Club: “Dad, why didn’t you ever tell me? Exactly what I need for my Princeton application!” 

Her search for her ancestors’ culture (read “hardship”) as antidote to her pampered upbringing pushes the limit over and over, as she snaps at her parents not to talk with Jin Qiang (”It’s insulting!”) to bursting out with, “If you disowned me and I had cancer, I could be myself!” 

And there’s much in the way of funny sight gags. The pacing sometimes syncopates physical humor with skewed lines that become silly non sequiturs, like “Time is money, not socks!” 

The cast, both as ensemble and in each player’s performance, shows verve and invention, with energetic and savvy direction by another, not so clueless Desdemona, surname Chiang, one of Impact’s artistic associates, who’s helmed a couple other fast-paced comedies in La Val’s basement for them. 

Entering the action at all angles throughout the show is Pearl Wong, playing countless roles, from an adopted Korean orphan to Jin Qiang’s mother, whom he calls (she’s apparently in customer service or phone sex) to report on his American family: “They eat their food with this sweet-and-sour sauce—only not sour; they wear their shoes indoors,” to which she replies, “Why? To track in the dirt? Is this family really Chinese?” 

On all levels, it’s an exhilarating send-up of that Yankee mock-up and fixation, Tradition. As one character says, “I love Christmas. It’s so American!” 

Even Colin Trevor’s sound design proves hilarious. There are little touches, too, in set (Edward Ross), costume (Choco Couture/Sarah Pugliaresi), lighting (Kelly Kunaniac) and props (C3/Joshua Schisser). And I promised to mention the new seats! Impressive, and a relief to those who’ve braved padded folding chairs in the past. As Steve, at the ticket counter asserted, “We insist you bring food in ... and now the seats are drip dry, too!” 

CHING CHONG CHINAMAN 

Presented by Impact Theatre at 8 p.m. Thursday–Saturday through Oct. 11 at  

La Val’s Subterranean, 1834 Euclid Ave. 

$10-$17. 464-4468. www.impactteatre.com.

Water conservation is a global warming issue and an energy issue and a cost issue. It’s global and it’s local. It’s a water availability issue and a pollution issue. The population of the planet was estimated at 6.2 billion in 2000 and expected to increase by 3 billion by 2025 (mostly in the developing world, of course, since we’re not allowed to talk about birth control or distribute condoms). That’s only 16 years from now.  

Many, if not most of the things that we need to do to stave off the ruin of our communities are within our grasp. Simple things like eating less beef and taking shorter showers. It’s hard to imagine how these things affect our atmosphere and the lives of people living in distant places but the work world is getting smaller and smaller and the planetary impact of everyday activities is becoming more discernible as the days pass. 

It may be surprising to learn (well, I was surprised, anyway) that toilets use 30-40 percent of the water in our homes, far exceeding all other single activities. Delivering water takes energy, electricity to be specific, since it’s pumped to our homes from great distances.  

While we do take advantage of the natural fall from the Sierras, we still use over 10 percent of our total state energy budget moving water. Making electricity generates carbon in many cases (we do have some hydroelectric power in the state as well as some nuclear) and this increases global warming as well as the acidity of the oceans just to mention two of the effects we’re aware of. 

As of Aug. 1 this year, East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) has us on a Drought Emergency Rate Schedule for water service. You’ve probably heard. Families will be expected to keep their use under 172 gallons per day or pay at a higher rate. The base rate is $2/100 cubic feet of water and goes up to as much as $3.05 if you can’t get your teenager out of the shower in something under an hour. 

With all this in mind, I suggest that you take on the, relatively simple, task of replacing one or more of your toilets. It’s actually not that hard. 

First, let’s take a look at low-flow toilets. I’d like to talk a little about them primarily because there are concerns about their effectiveness that I would like to dispel. The old guard of toilets from before the 1950s used roughly seven gallons per flush or over four times the current models. Toilets improved in water efficiency over the decades decreasing to 5.5, then 3.5 and eventually to our current 1.6 gallon models. There are even dual-flush models (developed originally in Australia where water conservation is a very big deal). These units allow you to designate what kind of deposit you’d like to make and potentially use less than a gallon for liquid equity investments. These are really worth looking at and it’s a very easy adjustment to make (several types already exist and they’re at the store waiting for you right now). 

While the early low-flow toilets often suffered from two-flush syndrome (they didn’t really flush effectively), most of our current stock are very effective as the industry has been forced to address these issues due to a huge financial incentive (how many toilets get sold each year?). 

Replacing a toilet is a relatively simple job in many but not all cases. If you have a house from before 1915, you may have a more complex job facing you and in any event it’s a good idea to be prepared to call an experienced plumber if you get stuck but this is very likely a job you can get through without calling for help if you have a modicum of experience with screwdrivers and pry-bars. 

Before you go shopping, measure the distance from the center of the toilet outflow at the base to the wall. There are usually two screws (sometimes covered with caps) located just to the right and left of the centerline of the outflow at the base. This is usually about 12 inches but you want to be sure. Modern toilets are often smaller than older toilets in this regard and end up with a gap at the back when replacing older ones. This isn’t a crisis but it’s good to plan ahead. 

If you shop at the better plumbing outfits, like Moran Supply or Rubenstein’s (both in Oakland), they will be able to give you very specific information about fit. At the dreaded big-box stores, which will remain nameless, you’ll be lucky to find the toilet you wanted in stock. I strongly recommend calling in advance to be sure there are several of the model you need. Consider a Toto as they’re on the best toilets on the market. Kohler and American Standard also make good quality china, while Gerber, Eljer and Briggs also make a valid contribution to this growing market (It’s hard to go wrong selling toilets!). 

Once you’ve picked out your model, be sure to also buy a new flexible water connector. There is one that is specifically for toilets, so be sure that the store gives you the right one. A good trick is to take the old one with you to be sure you have the right fittings on both ends. Some older shut-off valves (that the little valve near the floor that feeds water to the toilet) have oddly sized outputs and you want to be sure that your connector fits. Get it a little longer than you think you’ll need. This can prevent screaming plumber syndrome (not to mention saving gas not used going back to the store one more time). 

I actually favor replacement of this little shut-off valve if it doesn’t feel beyond your skill. When doing this, you’ll need to turn off the water to the house for a while and I would suggest you allow enough time to take the valve off and take it to the store. Again, this increases the likelihood that you’ll come back with the right one. 

The new toilet should be assembled according to the instructions (most need some assembly although many single piece toilets are ready to install right out of the box) and test fitted where the old toilet sat. When you unbolt the old toilet (it’s usually just two screws on the base (these may be under plastic or ceramic caps that you have to “pop” off with a screwdriver or putty knife) take a good look at the bottom and see how it fits. Look at the remains of the old wax ring and see what type it was. There are some that use only wax and some that include a plastic funnel shaped piece that is nested into the wax. 

Many older toilets used only wax and when plastic is used, you must be sure that is not inhibited and has a good seating because these can actually cause leaks. I usually buy one of each just to be sure and they cost so little that it’s not worth another trip to the store (have you detected a pattern here?). Actually, I usually buy two of the plain wax rings because they can be stacked for a better fit when the “flange” or ring the toilet will rest upon is much lower than the little snout on the bottom of the toilet. It’s not a big deal to use too much wax because it will just smoosh out when you seat the new one. 

It’s also a very good idea to get a new set of toilet bolts, nuts and caps (or covers). By removing the old toilet before you shop, you can remove the bolts and nuts from the old flange and take them with you. There are two common sizes and the person at the store can help you get the right ones. As soon as you see these two common sizes, you’ll know which one you need. Get two sets of washers so that one can be set on top of the flange and another on top of the base of the toilet. Install the bolts so that they stick straight up on the exact right and left of the hole in the flange (where the ‘gators come out). There are semi-circular slots with an entry point that is about 30º around from the place where they belong. When you remove the old ones you’ll see how this works. You put them into the opening and slide them around to the right spot and then tighten up a barbed washer or a small nut (depending on which you buy) that will hold the bolt upright. Then place the wax ring you’ve chosen right on top of the flange. Again, you’ll see that there is a specific place for it to sit and then … pick up the toilet and lower it carefully down onto the two bolts and the wax ring. A second person makes this easier especially if one can hold the toilet while the second guides it down (sort of a orbital docking kind of thing). 

At this point, I usually straddle the toilet and rock it gently until I’ve smooshed the wax enough to just reach the floor. One this is accomplished, you can put on a washer and nut on either side followed by plastic cap. (Note: most plastic caps have a base that goes under the washer and the nut so get the order right). 

Lastly, you can replace the valve if you bought one and the install the replacement flexible connector. Most replacement connectors come with rubber seals installed in either end. Make sure that they are there before you leave the store and again before you install. This is yet another scream inducer and gas waster. Also, I recommend that you use a metal covered “no-burst” connector to decrease the likelihood of a leak. 

There you have it. A way to save upwards of 25 percent of your water bill if the statisticians are correct. 

We’re all going to have to get used to much higher water cost and greatly increased water conservation over the coming decades. Changing toilets is easy and relatively cheap (do-it-yourselfers will generally pay under $250). Getting your teen out of the that shower in under an hour? When I figure that out, I’ll get back to you. 

THURSDAY, SEPT. 11 

Walkers 55+ Explore Albany History Join Karen Sorensen, co-author of the recent “Images of America: Albany” on an easy, level walk discussing early days. Meet at 10 a.m. at the Albany Senior Center, 846 Masonic. Free, but registration required. 524-9283.  

“Birding By Ear” A Thurs. eve. class at 7 p.m. at Albany Adult School, 601 San Gabriel Avenue, Albany, through Oct. 2, with Sat. a.m. field trips. Register on-line at http://albany.k12.ca.us/adult 

East Bay Science Cafe “Battle Water versus Tap Water” with Kishore Hari at 7 p.m. at La Peña. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

“Disaster Preparedness” Philip Machel, Red Cross volunteer, will give a talk on how you and your loved ones can prepare to be safe during all types of disasters, at 7 p.m. at El Cerrito Library, 6510 Stockton Ave., El Cerrito. 526-7512. 

Learning For Life Education Fair Learn about the opportunities for lifelong learning at 4 p.m. at Barbary Lane at Lake Merritt, 1800 Madison St., Oakland. RSVP to 903-3600. 

East Bay Mac Users Group meets to discuss the iPhone and MobileMe at 7 p.m. at Expression College for Digital Arts, 6601 Shellmound St., Emeryville. http://ebmug.org 

Introduction to Golf Learn pre-shot and full-swing fundamentals, and become familiar with terminology/equipment at 5:30 p.m. at Tilden Golf Course. Golf balls and loaner clubs are provided. Cost is $50-$56, but participants receive a range and class discount card. Registration required 1-888-EBPARKS. 

Improv Acting Classes Learn to create characters, scenes and stories spontaneously. No experience required. Meets every Thurs. at 6:45 p.m. at YWCA, 2600 Bancroft Way. Cost is $10. BerkeleyImprov.com 

19th Century Dancing Learn boisterous Scottish dance and elegant English dances a la Jane Austen, ongoing Thurs. at 8:15 p.m. at YWCA, 2600 Bancroft Way. Cost is $10. BerkeleyDancing.com 

Toastmasters Berkeley Communicators meeets at 7:30 a.m. at Au Coquelet, 2000 University Ave. Rob.Flammia@gmail.com. 

Three Beats for Nothing South Mostly ancient part music for fun and practice meets every Thurs. at 10 a.m. at the South Berkeley Senior Center, Ellis at Ashby. 655-8863. asiecker@sbcglobal 

Fitness Class for 55+ at 9:15 a.m. at Jewish Community Center, 1414 Walnut St. 848-0237. 

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 

FRIDAY, SEPT. 12 

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with David S. Hill on “So, You Really Want to be Secretary of State!” Luncheon at 11:45 a.m. for $14.50, speech at 12:30 p.m., at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant St. For information and reservations call 524-7468. www.citycommonsclub.org  

Stockton Avenue Art Stroll, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the El Cerrito Open House Senior Center, 6500 Stockton Ave., El Cerrito. 559-7677. 

Dialogue with Mooji A teacher in the tradition of inquiry of Ramana Maharshi at 7 p.m. at 2286 Cedar St. By donation. 495-7511. www.eastbayopencircle.org  

Walk the Line & Connect to the Home Front Walk the line of history and the keel of a victory ship, and learn about the men and women who contributed to victory on the home front during World War II, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. followed by optional 45 min. Bay Trail stroll. Meet park ranger at memorial by main parking lot at Rosie the Riveter Memorial, Marina Bay Park, Melville and Regatta, Richmond. 232-5050. www.nps.gov/rori/ 

All Hands on Deck: Building the Ships that Kept Democracy Afloat Learn about the 747 ships built at the Kaiser shipyards and the people that built them, from 2 to 3 p.m. at Historic Shipyard No. 3, 1337 Canal Blvd., Berth 6A, Richmond. Park outside SS Red Oak Victory gate. 232-5050. Directions to shipyard 237-2933. www.ssredoakvictory.com/contact.htm 

Womansong Circle Participatory Singing for women at 7:15 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, small assembly room, 2345 Channing Way, at Dana. Suggested donation $15-$20. 525-7082. 

Berkeley Women in Black weekly vigil from noon to 1 p.m. at Bancroft and Telegraph. Our focus is human rights in Palestine. 548-6310. 

Three Beats for Nothing Mostly ancient part music for fun and practice meets every Fri. at 10 a.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center, Hearst at MLK. 655-8863. asiecker@sbcglobal 

SATURDAY, SEPT. 13 

People’s Park Annual Celebration at 1 p.m. at People’s Park with a rally, concert and workshops on global warming, foreclosures, and MacDonald’s firing of disabled and older workers. peoplesparkcommunity@yahoogroups.com 

String Band Contest and Crafts Fair with 20 old-time string bands competing from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Berkeley Farmers’ Market, Center St. at MLK, Jr. Way. 548-3333. www.ecologycenter.org 

9th Annual Pow Wow with Medicine Warriors Dance Troupe and All Nations Singers from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Grand Entry at noon at Clinton Park, International Boulevard between 6th & 7th Aves., Oakland. 

“Create for Change” A community music and arts festival to support Barack Obama, Move On and Rock the Vote from 2 to 6 p.m. at Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. $20-$100 donations requested. www.createforchange.org 

People’s Grocery Annual Brunch Fundraiser “Harvesting Justice 2008” Brunch made with organic produce grown in our gardens and farm, featuring entertainment and a short presentation about People’s Grocery at 10:30 a.m. at Scottish Rite Center, 1547 Lakeside Drive, Oakland. Sign-up on-line, seats are limited. 652-7607. www.peoplesgrocery.org 

Bike Tour: MLK Shoreline Park to Lake Chabot Meet at 10 a.m. at Fruitvale BART, end at Castro Valley BART. Donation $10. Sponsored by Sustainable Pacific Rim Cities (SPRC) and Cycles of Change. Email tourleader at sustainablepacific dot org 

Positively Ageless: A Celebration of Art & Aging Benefit to support frail elders and adults with disabilities from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m., at the 4th Street Studio, 1717 Fourth St. Cost is $40-$60. 883-0874. 

NAACP Berkeley Branch meets at 1 p.m. at 2108 Russell St. There will be a report on the 99th NAACP convention held in Cincinnati, Ohio, and branch election of the Nominating Committee. All are welcome. 845-7416. 

Oakland Eastbay NOW and Physicians for Reproductive Choice & Health present a perspective on Ballot Proposition 4 at 2 p.m. at the Rockridge Library, 5366 College Ave. Speakers include Pratima Gupta, physician at Kaiser Hospital, Libbey Bennet, Asst. Dir., PRCH, and Destiny Lopez, Ex. Dir. ACESSES/ Womens Rights Coaliton. 

El Cerrito City Hall Grand Opening Celebration from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 10890 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. 215-4318. 

Natural History and Science Educator’s Academy Learn how to liven up your lessons with crafts, songs, and stories, Sat. and Sun. from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. For pre-school to 3rd grade teachers. Cost is $50. Registration required. 525-2233. 

Reptile Rendevous Learn about the reptiles that live in Tilden Park, from 2 to 3 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center. 525-2233. 

Marsh-kateers! An adventure hike for 6-8 year olds and their caregivers to investigate storm drains and urban run-off pollutionn, and what you and your family can do to prevent it, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center, 4901 Breakwater Ave., Hayward. Cost is $6, registration required. 670-7270.  

Crossword Puzzle Tournament from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Alameda High School, Cafeteria, 2201 Encinal Ave., Alameda. Benefits the California Dictionary Project. 681-9675. www.bayareacrosswords.org 

The East Bay Chapter of The Great War Society with Dana Lombardy on “The Future of the Society and Growth Potential” at 10 a.m. at Albany Public Library, 1247 Marin Ave. in Albany. 527-7118. 

“Pornography of Power” with Robert Scheer at 7 p.m. at Alameda Free Library, Conf. Room A, 1550 Oak St., Alameda. Sponsored by Alameda Public Affairs Forum and Books Inc. Donations at the door. alamedapublicaffairs@comcast.net 

“ZiZek” A film and discussion about the “wild man of theory” who describes himself as a Marxist"and a Communist at 7 p.m. at The Institute for the Critical Study of Society, at 6501 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. 595-7417. 

Baby & Toddler Storytime at 10:15 and 11:15 a.m. at Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave. 524-3043.  

Walk the Line & Connect to the Home Front Walk the line of history and the keel of a victory ship, and learn about the men and women who contributed to victory on the home front during World War II, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. followed by optional 45 min. Bay Trail stroll. Meet park ranger at memorial by main parking lot at Rosie the Riveter Memorial, Marina Bay Park, Melville and Regatta, Richmond. 232-5050. www.nps.gov/rori/ 

All Hands on Deck: Building the Ships that Kept Democracy Afloat Learn about the 747 ships built at the Kaiser shipyards and the people that built them, from 2 to 3 p.m. at Historic Shipyard No. 3, 1337 Canal Blvd., Berth 6A, Richmond. Park outside SS Red Oak Victory gate. 232-5050. Directions to shipyard 237-2933. www.ssredoakvictory.com/contact.htm 

Buddhist Healing Ceremony Dungse Rigzin Dorje Rinpoche will conduct the Healing Chod Sat. and Sun. from 1 to 5 p.m. at Rudramandir, 830 Bancroft Way. Bring a blanket to lie on and food or drink for offering on Sun. Donation $195 for the Zandokpalri temple in India. 323-2651. 

“Beyond Health: Never Be Sick Again” with Raymond Francis at 2:30 p.m. at Elephant Pharm, 1607 Shattuck Ave. 549-9200. 

Guinea-Piggy-Thon Everything you want to know about adopting a guinea pig or bonding your lonely pet with a new friend, caring for your guinea pig, and making gourmet salads for your new herbivore from 2 to 5 p.m. at RabbitEARS, 377 Colusa Ave., Kensington. 525-6155. www.rabbitears.org 

Meditation Class at noon at 7th Heaven Yoga Studio, 2820 7th St. Free. 665-4300. 

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. www.nativeplants.org 

Around the World Tour of Plants at 1:30 p.m., Thurs., Sat. and Sun. at UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Drive. 643-2755. http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu 

The Berkeley Lawn Bowling Club provides free instruction every Wed. and Sat. at 10:30 a.m. at 2270 Acton St. 841-2174.  

SUNDAY, SEPT. 14 

34th annual Solano Stroll “Stroll for Health” with community information booths, food and entertainment, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. along Solano Ave. in Berkeley and Albany. www.solanoave.org 

Friends of the Alameda Wildlife Refuge Workday Help prepare habitat for California Least Terns. Meet at the main refuge gate at the northwest corner of former Alameda Naval Air Station at 9 a.m. For more information or for directions email jrobinson@goldengateaudubon.org 

Inroduction to Fly-Fishing Learn casting at Lake Anza followed by classroom instruction on knots, fly selection, reading the water, and more. From 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Tilden Park. Cost is $60-$66. Registration required. 1-888-EBPARKS. 

Old Time Radio East Bay Collectors and listeners gather to enjoy shows together at 5 p.m. at a private home in Richmond. For more information email DavidinBerkeley at Yahoo.com 

Personal Theology Seminar with Huston Smith and Walter Truett Anderson at 10 a.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Rd., Kensington. 525-0302, ext. 306. 

Free Hands-on Bicycle Clinic Learn how to do a safety inspection, from 10 to 11 a.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. Bring your bike and tools. 527-4140. 

Feldenkrais for Breast Cancer Survivors at 5 p.m. at Elephant Pharm, 1607 Shattuck Ave. 549-9200. 

Free Garden Tours at Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden Park Sat. and Sun. at 2 p.m. Call to confirm. 841-8732. www.nativeplants.org 

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 

Berkeley Chess Club meets every Sun. at 7 p.m. at the Hillside School, 1581 Le Roy Ave. 843-0150. 

Tibetan Buddhism with Bob Byrne on “Glimpse of Wisdom” at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 809-1000. www.nyingmainstitute.com 

MONDAY, SEPT. 15 

Peace Corps Presents “Stories from Georgia” Hear from Peace Corps volunteers who have served in Georgia at 6 p.m. at Oakland Public Library-Rockridge Branch, Upstairs Community Room), 5366 College Ave., Oakland. 452-8446. 

Berkeley Green Monday “The Death Penalty: 3 Perspectives” with Aaron Owens, exonerated of murder charges, Elizabeth Zitrin, attorney, Death Penalty Focus, Judy Kerr, California Crime Victims for Alternatives to the Death Penalty at 7:30 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. www.berkeleygreens.org 

Small Businees Workshops Mon. eve. from 6 to 9 p.m., through Sept. 29 at Richmond Public Library, Community Room, 325 Civic Center Plaza. Free, but advanced registration recommended. 620-6561. 

On Lok Annual Golf Tournament to benefit On Lok programs serving the community of frail seniors by helping them to stay living in their own homes at noon at Mira Costa Golf and Country Club, 7901 Cutting Blvd., El Cerrito. Silent auction at 5 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m. 415-292-8732. ctam@onlok.org 

World Affairs/Politics Discussion Group, for people 60 years and over, meets at 9:45 a.m. at Albany Senior Center, 846 Masonic Ave, Albany. Cost is $3.  

Berkeley CopWatch organizational meeting at 8 p.m. at 2022 Blake St. Join us to work on current issues around police misconduct. Volunteers needed. For information call 548-0425. 

Dragonboating Year round classes at the Berkeley Marina, Dock M. Meets Mon, Wed., Thurs. at 6 p.m. Sat. at 10:30 a.m. For details see www.dragonmax.org 

Free Boatbuilding Classes for Youth Mon.-Wed. from 3 to 7 p.m. at Berkeley Boathouse, 84 Bolivar Dr., Aquatic Park. Classes cover woodworking, boatbuilding, and boat repair. 644-2577. www.watersideworkshops.org 

TUESDAY, SEPT. 16 

Berkeley Garden Club meets at 1:45 p.m. at Epworth United Methodist Church, 1953 Hopkins St. Susan Handjian, Water Conservaton Representative, EBMUD, will speak on becoming a Mediterranean Gardener. 433-2911. wwwberkeleygardenclub.org 

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Open House, an educational program for older adults, from 9:30 a.m. to noon at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, 2025 Addison St. 642-9934. www.olli.berkeley.edu 

LiveTalk@CPS with Farnaz Fassihi, deputy bureau chief of Middle East and Africa for The Wall Street Journal on “Waiting for an Ordinary Day” at 7 p.m. at College Prepatory School, Buttner Auditorium, 6100 Broadway. Tickets are $5-$15 at the door. www.college-prep.org/livetalk 

Political Theater for Everyone A class in experimental political/street theater technique from 6 to 8 p.m. at Rock-Paper-Scissors Collective, Telegraph at 23rd St., Oakland. http://rpscollective.com/new.php 

Improv Acting Classes Play fun games that unleash your imagination, creativity, and confidence. Learn to create characters, scenes and stories spontaneously. No experience required. Meets Tues. at 6 p.m. at YWCA, 2600 Bancroft Way. $10. BerkeleyImprov.com 

Great Mountain Bike Rides in the San Francisco Bay Area with Skye Kraft at 7 p.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140. 

Randel McGee & Groark the Dragon, puppeteer/ventriloquist at 6:30 p.m. at Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave. For ages 3 and up. 524-3043. http://ccclib.org  

Fighting Chronic Illness with Fitness A demonstration and discussion with Alison Roessler, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist from 12:30-2:30 p.m. in Maffly Auditorium, Herrick Campus of Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, 2001 Dwight Way. 644-3273. fibro@bigvalley.net 

“Buddhism: Tendai Founders’ Unique and Enduring Contributions” with VK Leary Keisho at 7 p.m. at Center for Buddhist Education at the Jodo Shinshu Center, 2140 Durant Ave., at Fulton. Free or by donation. 809-1460. www.cbe-bca.org  

“Depth Over Time: The Key to Spiritual Transformation” with Swami Khecaranatha, at 7 p.m. at Rudramandir, 830 Bancroft Way. 486-8700. www.rudramandir.com 

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. 

End the Occupation Vigil every Tues. at noon at Oakland Federal Bldg., 1301 Clay St. www.epicalc.org 

Street Level Cycles Community Bike Program Come use our tools as well as receive help with performing repairs free of charge. Youth classes available. Tues., Thurs., and Sat. from 2 to 6 p.m. at at 84 Bolivar Dr., Aquatic Park. 644-2577. www.watersideworkshops.org 

Fresh Produce Stand at San Pablo Park from 3 to 6 p.m. in the Frances Albrier Community Center. Sponsored by the Ecology Center’s Farm Fresh Choice. 848-1704. www.ecologycenter.org 

Berkeley Camera Club meets at 7:30 p.m., at the Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. Share your digital images, slides and prints and learn what other photographers are doing. Monthly field trips. 548-3991. www.berkeleycameraclub.org 

St. John’s Prime Timers meets at 9:30 a.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. We offer ongoing classes in exercise and creative arts, and always welcome new members over 50. 845-6830. 

Sing-A-Long Group from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Albany Senior Center, 846 Masonic Ave., Albany. 524-9122. 

Yarn Wranglers Come knit and crochet at 6:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 17 

Tilden Mini-Rangers Hiking, conservation and nature-based activities for ages 8-12. Dress to ramble and get dirty. From 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. Cost is $6-$8, registration required. 1-888-EBPARKS. 

“The 11th Hour” A documentary on the perilous state of our planet, narrated by Leonardo Di Caprio, at 7:30 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. Donation $5. www.Humanist Hall.org  

League of Women Voters Fall Membership Meeting on “Strategies for Combatting Climate Change” at 5:30 p.m. at the Northbrae Community Church, 941 the Alameda. 843-8824. lwvbae.org 

“Canto a lo Poeta: Poet Songs” A documentary about La Paya, improvisational singing in Chile at 8 p.m. at La Peña. Cost is $8-$10. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Simplicity Forum Presentation by Anastasia Nicole on backyard gardening and permaculture principles at 6:30 p.m. at Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave.  

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. 548-9840. 

Jump Start Entrepreneurs Network meets at 8 a.m. at Cuppa Tea, 3202 College Ave. at Alcactraz. Cost is $5-$6, includes breakfast. 899-8242. www.jumpstartten.com 

Theraputic Recreation at the Berkeley Warm Pool, Wed. at 3:30 p.m. and Sat. at 10 a.m. at the Berkeley Warm Pool, 2245 Milvia St. Cost is $4-$5. Bring a towel. 632-9369. 

Berkeley Peace Walk and Vigil at the Berkeley BART Station, corner of Shattuck and Center. Sing for Peace at 6:30 p.m. followed by Peace Walk at 7 p.m. www.geocities.com/vigil4peace/vigil 

Teen Chess Club from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the North Branch Library, 1170 The Alameda at Hopkins. 981-6133. 

Spanish Conversation Classes Wed. and Thurs. at 9:30 a.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst St. 981-5190. 

Morning Meditation Every Mon., Wed., and Fri. at 7:45 a.m. at Rudramandir, 830 Bancroft Way at 6th. 486-8700. 

Berkeley CopWatch Drop-in office hours from 6 to 8 p.m. at 2022 Blake St. 548-0425. 

Stitch ‘n Bitch at 6:30 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

THURSDAY, SEPT. 18 

Berkeley Path Wanderers Association Annual Meeting with keynote speaker will be earthquake expert Katherine Stillwell on “The Hayward Fault: Living on the Edge.” The program will include a tribute to retiring council member Betty Olds, a longtime champion of Berkeley’s paths. at 7 p.m. at the Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. 

Tilden Tots Join a nature adventure program for 3 and 4 year olds, each accompanied by an adult (grandparents welcome)! We’ll look for our spider friends from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. Cost is $6-$8. Registration required. 636-1684. 

Tilden Explorers An after-school nature adventure program for 5-7 year olds. We will search for spiders from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. Cost is $6-$8, registration required. 1-888-EBPARKS. 

Urban Bicycle Safety Class Learn how to share the road with cars on busy streets of the East Bay, from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at Kaiser Oakland Meidcal Center. Sponsored by the East Bay Bicycle Coalition. Free. For information see www.ebbc.org/safety 

“Tracking Bay Area Birds with the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory“ by Stephanie Ellis at 7 p.m. at Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda, between Solano and Marin. Sponsored by Golden Gate Audubon Society. 843-2222. 

“A Community Guide to Environmental Health” with author Jeff Conant at 7 p.m. at the Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave., near Dwight Way. 548-3402. www.ecologycenter.org 

“A Jihad for Love” Film and conversation on issues of faith and sexuality at JCC of the EAst BAy, 1414 Walnut St. 848-0237. 

Berkeley Public Library Master Plan discussion at 6:30 p.m. at Claremont Branch, 2940 Benvenue at Ashby. Plan available on-line at www.berkeleypubliclibaray.org 981-6195. 

The LeConte Neighborhood Association meets at 7:30 p.m. at the LeConte School, Russell St. entrance. Agenda items are welcome. Please contact karlreeh@aol.com 

Berkeley School Volunteers Orientation from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at 1835 Allston Way. Come learn about volunteer opportunities. Bring photo ID and two references. 644-8833. 

Green Chamber of Commerce Business Mixer at 5:30 p.m. at Mechanics Bank, 801 San Pablo Ave. 558-2330. Cost is $10-$20. RSVP at www.greenchamberofcommerce.net 

Baby & Toddler Storytime at 10:15 and 11:15 a.m. at Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave. 524-3043.  

Three Beats for Nothing South Mostly ancient part music for fun and practice meets every Thurs. at 10 a.m. at the South Berkeley Senior Center, Ellis at Ashby. 655-8863. asiecker@sbcglobal 

Fitness Class for 55+ at 9:15 a.m. at Jewish Community Center, 1414 Walnut St. 848-0237. 

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 

Avatar Metaphysical Toastmasters Club meets at 6:45 p.m. at Spuds Pizza, 3290 Adeline at Alcatraz. Free, all are welcome. namaste@avatar.freetoasthost.info  

FRIDAY, SEPT. 19 

Iraq Moratorium Day and Vigil to Protest the War from 2 to 4 p.m. at the corners of University & Acton. Sponsored by Strawberry Creek Lodge Tenant’s Assoc & Berkeley-East Bay Gray Panthers. 548-9696. 

“Special Circumstances” A film about confronting the legacy of Pinochet and US intervention in Latin America, at 8 p.m. at La Peña. Cost is $8-$10. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Conscientious Projector Film Series “The New Deal” at 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, 1924 Cedar at Bonita.  

“1968: A Discussion On The Lessons and Vibrant Legacy Of The Year That Shook The World” with Robert Hillary King, Immanuel Wallerstein, Staughton Lynd, Andrej Grubacic, Paco Ignacio Taibo II, Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz at 7 p.m. at Julia Morgan Theater, 2640 College Ave. Cost is $10 at the door. www.juliamorgan.org 

Cancer Prevention and Survival Cooking Course meets for four Fri. from 6 to 8 p.m. at Alta Bates Summit Cardiac Rehabilitation, 3030 Telegraph Ave. Free, but registration required. 869-6737.  

Tilden Tots Join a nature adventure program for 3 and 4 year olds, each accompanied by an adult (grandparents welcome)! We’ll look for our spier friends from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. Cost is $6-$8. Registration required. 636-1684. 

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with Meg Burke on “Exploring the Exciting and Unique New Home of the California Academy of Sciences” Luncheon at 11:45 a.m. for $14.50, speech at 12:30 p.m., at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant St. For information and reservations call 524-7468. www.citycommonsclub.org 

Scottish Dance Party All dances taught, no experience or partner necessary, at 8 p.m. at Grace North Church, 2138 Cedar St. 653-7507. 

“Buddhism: Downloadable Dharma” with Clark Strand at 7 p.m., Center for Buddhist Education at the Jodo Shinshu Center, 2140 Durant Ave., at Fulton. Free or by donation. 809-1460. www.cbe-bca.org  

Walk the Line & Connect to the Home Front Walk the line of history and the keel of a victory ship, and learn about the men and women who contributed to victory on the home front during World War II, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. followed by optional 45 min. Bay Trail stroll. Meet park ranger at memorial by main parking lot at Rosie the Riveter Memorial, Marina Bay Park, Melville and Regatta, Richmond. 232-5050. www.nps.gov/rori/ 

All Hands on Deck: Building the Ships that Kept Democracy Afloat Learn about the 747 ships built at the Kaiser shipyards and the people that built them, from 2 to 3 p.m. at Historic Shipyard No. 3, 1337 Canal Blvd., Berth 6A, Richmond. Park outside SS Red Oak Victory gate. 232-5050. Directions to shipyard 237-2933. www.ssredoakvictory.com/contact.htm 

Berkeley Women in Black weekly vigil from noon to 1 p.m. at Bancroft and Telegraph. Our focus is human rights in Palestine. 548-6310. 

Three Beats for Nothing Mostly ancient part music for fun and practice meets every Fri. at 10 a.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center, Hearst at MLK. 655-8863. asiecker@sbcglobal 

SATURDAY, SEPT. 20 

California Coastal Clean-up Day from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Berkeley: Behind the Seabreeze Market at the corner of University and Frontage Rd. 981-6720; Emeryville at Emeryville Fire House at 2333 Powell St. 596-3728; Albany at the foot of Buchanan behind the Golden Gate Fields race track, by the big bench; Richmond at Shimada Friendship Park, Marina Bay Pkwy off 580. 374-3231. Point Pinole Regional Shoreline. 525-2233. For other sites see www.coastforyou.org 

West Berkeley Senior Center BBQ, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1900 6th St. at Hearst. Cost is $10.50-$15. 981-5180. 

Walking Tour of the Dimond District A walking tour sponsored by Oakland Heritage Alliance. Meet at 10 a.m. at the Boy Scout hut in Dimond Park. Cost is $10-$15. 763-9218. www.oaklandheritage.org 

Alternative Energy Options including solar power and solar tubes for homeowners from 9 to 11 a.m. at Truitt & White conference room, 1817 2nd St. Free, but registration required. truittandwhite.com 

Adopt A Special Kid Information workshop, in English and Spanish at 10 a.m. at 8201 Edgewater Dr. Suite 103. 553-1748 ext 12. www.aask.org 

Tri-City Safety Day Meet public safety agency representatives from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at El Cerrito Plaza, San Pablo and Fairmount Ave., El Cerrito. 

Vegetarian Cooking Class Demystifying Tofu and Tempeh Learn to make Tofu Benedict, Sweet and Sour Tempeh, Noodle Kugel, Chocolate Mousse and more from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at First Unitarian Church of Oakland, 685 14th St. at Castro. Cost is $50, plus $5 food and material fee. Advance registration required. 531-COOK. www.compassionatecooks.com 

Shawl-Anderson Dance Center 50th Anniversary Gala from 5 to 10 p.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. Tickets are $75-$125. 654-5921. www.shawl-anderson.org 

Friends of the El Cerrito Library Books Sale from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and un. from noon to 4 p.m. at El Cerrito Library, 6510 Stockton Ave., El Cerrito. 526-7512. 

Taste of Bay Street with music, food samples and Apple Fest from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Bay Street, Emeryville. 655-4002. www.baystreetemeryville.com 

California Writers Club meets to discuss "Are You Good Enough To Be Published?" with Alan Rinzler at 10 a.m. at Barnes & Noble, Jack London Square. 272-0120. www.berkeleywritersclub.org 

Jewish Literature and Discussion Series meets to discuss “A Simple Story” by S.Y. Agnon at 2 p.m. at the Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave. 524-3043. 

Deva Primal and Miten Voice Workshop from 4 to 7 p.m. at Rudramandir at 830 Bancroft Way. Cost is $60. 486-8700. www.rudramandir.com 

Meditation Class at noon at 7th Heaven Yoga Studio, 2820 7th St. Free. 665-4300. 

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. www.nativeplants.org 

Around the World Tour of Plants at 1:30 p.m., Thurs., Sat. and Sun. at UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Drive. 643-2755. http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu 

The Berkeley Lawn Bowling Club provides free instruction every Wed. and Sat. at 10:30 a.m. at 2270 Acton St. 841-2174.  

Oakland Artisans Marketplace Sat. from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sun. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Jack London Square. 238-4948. 

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, SEPT. 21 

Run for Peace 5/10K walk/run at 9 a.m. at Cesar Chavez Park, Berkeley Marina. Sponsored byt UNA-USA East Bay. to register see www.run4peace.org 

Take a Stand, Sit for Change Ait-A-Thon from noon to 5 p.m. at MLK Civic Center Park, MLK at Center St. Admission by donation/pledges, no one turned away. 549-3733. urbanpeace.org 

Community Labyrinth Peace Walk at 3 p.m. at Willard Middle School, Telegraph Ave. between Derby and Stuart. Everyone welcome. Wheelchair accessible. 526-7377. info@eastbaylabyrinthproject.org  

East Bay Atheists Annual Picnic from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Big Leaf Picnic Area, Tilden Park. 222-7580. eastbayatheists.org 

Lawrence Hall of Science Community Day with ice cream making, bubbleology, and the science show “Flames, Flares, and Explosions” from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at LHS, Centennial Dr. 642-5132. www.lawrencehallofscience.org 

“Local Medicinal Herbs and Your Health” Learn the benefits of herbs and their use in western herbal medicine from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at EcoHouse, 1305 Hopkins St., enter via garden entrance on Peralta. Cost is $15, plus $5 materials fee. To register call 548-2220 ext. 242. 

Bike Tour of Oakland Meet at 10 a.m. at the 10th St. entrance of the Oakland Museum of California. Bring your bike, helmet and repair kit. Reservations required. 238-3514. 

Dynamite History Walk Discover the park preserved by dynamite on an easy-paced 3-mile walk, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. along Point Pinole Regional Shoreline. For meeting place call 525-2233. 

Walking Tour of Hidden Haddon Hill A walking tour sponsored by Oakland Heritage Alliance of a neighborhood of Mediterranean-style homes. Meet at 10 a.m. at the triangle at Kenwyn Rd. and McKinley Ave. Cost is $10-$15. 763-9218. www.oaklandheritage.org 

“Climate Change and Peace” with Daniel M. Kammen, UC Prof., Energy and Resources Group, at 3 p.m. at International House, 2299 Piedmont Ave. Sponsored by United Nations Association East Bay. 849-1752. www.unausaeastbay.org 

Jewish Coalition for Literacy Training for volunteer tutors arom 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 300 Grand, Oakland. Register at www.jclread.org 

Personal Theology Seminar with Ruth Gendler on “An Invitation to Beauty” at 10 a.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Rd., Kensington. 525-0302, ext. 306. 

Gallery of Thingamajigs Explore sounds produced by unusual instruments created from found materials, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 10 and Oak, Oakland. Cost is $5-$8. 238-2200. 

Free Garden Tours at Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden Park Sat. and Sun. at 2 p.m. Call to confirm. 841-8732. www.nativeplants.org 

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 

Berkeley Chess Club meets every Sun. at 7 p.m. at the Hillside School, 1581 Le Roy Ave. 843-0150. 

Tibetan Buddhism with Tom Mead on “Bringing Balance and Creativity to the Workplace” at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 809-1000. www.nyingmainstitute.com 

Sew Your Own Open Studio Come learn to use our industrial and domestic machines, or work on your own projects, from 4 to 8 p.m. at 84 Bolivar Dr., Aquatic Park. Also on Fri. from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cost is $5 per hour. 644-2577. www.watersideworkshops.org 

CITY MEETINGS 

Commission on Early Childhood Education meets Thurs., Sept. 11, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5428. 

Community Health Commission meets Thurs., Sept. 11, at 6:45 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5356.  

West Berkeley Project Area Commission meets Thurs., Sept. 11, at 7 p.m., at the West Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7520. 

Zoning Adjustments Board meets Thurs., Sept. 11, at 7 p.m., in City Council Chambers. 981-7410.  

Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board meets Mon., Sept. 15, at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers. 981-7368. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/rent 

Council Agenda Committee meets Mon. Sept. 15, Sept. 29, at 2:30 p.m., at 2180 Mil