"We have the right to make dumb jokes."

-- Tina Fey

I'm a free speech advocate. I've been arrested and I have served jail time for exercising my First Amendment rights. As a reporter, magazine editor and political cartoonist, I've received complaints (and a few rare death threats) for my work. So it goes without saying that I share the global outrage over the brutal murders of the cartoonists and staff at the French magazine Charlie Hebdo. It chills the blood to imagine any American cartoonist being placed in the crosshairs of a Kalashnikov. No matter your race, religion, history or lifestyle, murder is a heinous crime—far worse than even the most wounding insult.

But after dwelling on the causes and effects of this tragedy, I find that I have some qualms about the argument that there should be no limits to the exercise of free speech. -more-

On Sunday, at least 1500 people rallied in front of City Hall in San Francisco in remembrance of the victims of the terrorist attacks in France and in solidarity with the huge “marche républicaine” that took place in Paris and in other French cities earlier the same day. -more-

The Berkeley City Council will hold a special workshop meeting on Saturday on improving police and community relations following recent anti-police brutality protests. -more-

A coalition of clergy leaders staged a die-in and marched with university students through Berkeley today to respond to the deaths of unarmed black men at the hands of white police officers. -more-

Impacts of theater closure on local business should be carefully assessed.

The proposed Residences at Berkeley Plaza at 2201 Harold Way would be the city’s largest private residential development with 302 units. It would also be downtown’s tallest building with 18 stories, reaching 180 feet.

A mechanical penthouse will bring it up to 194 feet. Only the campanile (Sather Tower) on the UC Berkeley campus would be taller.

Larger projects like this one make possible the provision of significant community benefits, but can also have impacts that are detrimental.

The site, which formerly housed Hink’s department store, currently includes Landmark’s Shattuck Cinemas movie theatres and the Habitot Children’s Museum and has frontage on Kittredge, Harold Way and Allston Way.

The Habitot Museum, which would be displaced by the development, has asked the developers for $250,000 of the estimated $1,200,000 they will need to relocate elsewhere in Berkeley. Over 50 residents have so far e-mailed the Zoning Adustments Board in support of this request.

The Shattuck Cinemas would close during the demolition of existing buildings and construction of the new 18-story building.

Under the developers’ plan, the current ten theaters would be replaced by six theaters with about 665 seats. The new theaters would feature stadium seating.

City staff should assess the impact that the closure of the Shattuck Theaters would have on local businesses in Downtown, particularly restaurants. -more-

After months of Kaiser Permanente’s refusal to address the growing erosion of patient care standards, Kaiser RNs will hold a two-day strike January 21 and 22, the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United announced late today. -more-

A group of anonymous artists claimed responsibility for effigies of two black men and a woman hanging from nooses on the University of California at Berkeley campus on Saturday. -more-

As a Muslim I categorically condemn the Charlie Hebdo tragedy that killed 12 innocent civilians in the name of defending the honor of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be on him). Why am I condemning this crime? Because the Quran 5:32 clearly states that if a person killed one it is like if he killed the whole mankind. As a Muslim, I, too feel hurt when someone offends Prophet Muhammad. However, I feel more offended when those so-called Muslims respond violently to defend the honor of the man they greatly respect because Prophet Muhammad himself never retaliated against those who insulted him both by using abusive words and hurting him physically. -more-

What more is there to add to the different reactions to Charlie Hebdo's satirical French magazine and the subsequent murders of the magazine's staff? From progressives the general response has been revulsion against the murders and strong support for freedom of the press, although many of us are very unhappy about the content that appeared in the cartoon magazine.

Still, I think there is something else worth adding. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the French magazine instead of lampooning Muslims publishes messages of respect? And how wonderful it would be if the French working class, encouraged by their unions, reach out to these immigrants. Instead, the reaction to Muslims tends to be xenophobic. Moreover, it has encouraged the growth of the right wing in France. -more-

The developers of the proposed mega-project at 2211 Harold Way have presented a list of “benefits” to the City, which included for example the rebuilding of sidewalks as a benefit and the recessed building entrance as “open space.” A recent commenter in the Planet has correctly noted that most of what the developers propose is simply what they would have to do anyway. He has suggested that the developers contribute to construction of a plaza on the stretch of Center Street between Shattuck and Oxford. While in no way disagreeing with the notion that the developers owe the city a great deal more than so far offered, I would like to take issue with the Center Street plaza. -more-

This will be the biggest private sector building ever constructed in Berkeley—half a square block, 18 floors, 194 feet high—as well as the tallest Berkeley building ever (aside from the Campanile). The community benefits package should be proportionally outsized and permanently meaningful to the Berkeley public. -more-

The ZAB will consider the types and extent of community benefits being offered for this proposed project. Under current planning rules, extraordinary benefits are required for construction of a project of this size. The terms of those benefits will set the stage for future large buildings coming into the pipeline. Other than the benefit of insuring union labor of $10 million, a welcome recent change, the claimed benefits are either too small, appear to significantly overstate their value or do not further already established city priorities.

Some points to keep in mind: -more-

Recent experiences of police behavior with respect to demonstrations, students, and people of color have called for city review of policing procedures. A special open session of the City Council will be held on Jan 17, to address the issue of police actions and misconduct (at a location to be announced). This proposal is submitted as part of the discussion at that special session. -more-

Editor's Note: The latest issue of the Pepper Spray Times is now available.

You can view it absolutely free of charge by clicking here . You can print it out to give to your friends.

Grace Underpressure has been producing it for many years now, even before the Berkeley Daily Planet started distributing it, most of the time without being paid, and now we'd like you to show your appreciation by using the button below to send her money. -more-

Biting the hand that feeds them billions of dollars in military and economic aid, Jewish settlers attacked American consular officials who were investigating the destruction of Palestinian olive trees. International outrage followed Palestinian Authority minister, Ziad Abu Ein’s, death following a violent assault by Israeli forces. Tragically this state sponsored violence follows a familiar pattern. -more-

"We believe 'tear gas' is a misnomer for a group of poisonous gases which, far from being innocuous, have serious acute and longer-term adverse effects on the health of significant numbers of those exposed." -more-

Frieda died peacefully, just a few hours after a severe stroke, on Nov. 24, surrounded by a circle of friends. She was 75. She had been in the hospital for a week, and was recovering well from having a stent placed in the carotid artery. -more-

A cartoonist speaks out. (Thanks to Richard Brenneman for the link.) -more-

As the Republican-controlled 114th Congress convenes, the GOP will unveil their program for the next two years. Republicans claim most of their initiatives will create jobs, but this is far from the truth. When the GOP trumpets “new jobs,” it’s typically a ploy to divert gullible Americans from the true Republican agenda: lining the pockets of the rich. -more-

Patrice Émery Lumumba, wife Pauline Opango Lumumba, died in her sleep on December 23, 2014. She was 78. Her death is almost 54 years after Lumumba’s death on January 17, 1961. -more-

Housing is a human right, declared labor and senior-rights advocate Helen Corbin Lima (1917-2005). Five years ago, when she died, she was 88 years old, a resident of a Strawberry Creek Lodge (SCL) senior housing, which continues but is different. -more-

Quite a few years back, I wanted to go off of Zyprexa because I feared that it was giving me diabetes. I asked my psychiatrist to take me off Zyprexa, and he went along with it while prescribing other medications. -more-

—Berkeley Chamber Performances will present the San Francisco Chamber Players—violinists Dan Carlson & Nancy Severance, cellist Peter Wyrick (all three of the San Francisco Symphony) & pianist June Choi Oh (of the SF Conservatory)—at 8 p. m. this Tuesday, January 13, in the ballroom at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Avenue, in a program of Telemann's Quartet in D minor, Beethoven's Piano Quartet in E flat major Opus 16, two movements from contemporary Northern California composer David Smith's 1913 Street Scene (At the Fountain in the Plaza & At a Busy Intersection)—& Piano Quartet in D major Opus 23 by Dvorak. The audience is invited to a complimentary wine & cheese reception following the concert, with opportunity to meet the musicians. Tickets: $25; high school students free; post-high school students, $12.50. 525-5211; berkeleychamberperform.org -more-

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—'Grapes of Wrath' chronicled those who left the Dust Bowl during the Depression; 'Panhandle' shows the ones that stayed on. Actors Ensemble of Berkeley presents a musical drama by Emmy winner Walter Halsey Davis, with music by Marc Ream & Jeremy Sullivan, directed by Michael R. Cohen. opens this Friday, January 9 at 8, reception following, & runs Fridays & Saturdays till January 31, with 2 p. m. Sunday matinees on January 18th & 25th. Preview at: http://vimeo.com/115046736 $15-$20. LiveOak Theatre in Live Oak Park, Shattuck at Berryman. 649-5999; aeofberkeley.org -more-

Marion Fay's unusual Theater Explorations & Music Appreciation classes have just started up for this year. Theater Explorations meets either Monday, 1-3 p. m. for 9 more sessions & four plays, featuring post-performance discussions with guest speakers, including actress Janet Keller. Plays include Stoppard's Indian Ink at ACT (on February 2, 2 p. m.--bring $27 to class for mezzanine seat, $44 for orchestra seat), Molière's Tartuffe at Berkeley Rep & plays at the Aurora & SF Playhouse. $85, discounted theater tickets additional. -more-

Killing Trayvons: An Anthology of American Violence is a new collection of essays, poetry and documents relating to the death of Trayvon Martin and the acquittal of his killer George Zimmerman. Edited by journalist and CounterPunch editor Jeffrey St. Clair; CounterPunch, The Nation and Harper's contributor JoAnn Wypijewski; and veteran civil rights activist Kevin Alexander Gray, the book looks at the Martin case as an example of an ongoing pattern of police, and wanna be police, killing of African-American youth. In the editors' words, the book “tracks the case and explores why Trayvon’s name and George Zimmerman’s not guilty verdict symbolized all the grieving, the injustice, the profiling and free passes based on white privilege and police power: the long list of Trayvons known and unknown.” -more-