After four years on the Council, I continue to find the divisions between those who share similar values very distasteful. But even more than that, I despair when I see outside monied interests taking advantage of that division. -more-

The National Weather Service has extended its Red Flag warning until Tuesday evening in some parts of the Bay Area as high winds and low humidity continue to raise the danger of wildfires. -more-

My heart aches. A beautiful young woman is dead, her son motherless, her family traumatized. Violence often begets violence. And it is critical to interrupt it at the earliest stage. Studies prove that community engagement programs involving trained and trusted peacemakers bring gun violence down; -more-

A $50,000 reward is being offered for information that could help lead to the arrest of responsible suspects in the fatal shooting of Sereinat'e Henderson Wednesday night in Berkeley, police officials announced. -more-

If possible, hills residents should plan to stay elsewhere until fire danger subsides

The National Weather Service issued alerts for fire weather and high winds Friday that are expected in parts of the Bay Area beginning on Sunday. -more-

As schools inch closer to reopening campuses in some parts of California, medical experts are warning that the spread of the coronavirus will be inevitable and schools need to prepare.

Recent studies have shown that while children infected with the coronavirus are less likely to have symptoms, they often carry larger viral loads and can be "super spreaders," passing the virus to each other, their families and teachers.

And without widespread testing and contact tracing, identifying children who are infected is nearly impossible because most are asymptomatic, doctors said.

"It's very likely that even with careful screening, kids are going to end up in school with infections," said Dr. Dylan Chan, associate professor of otolaryngology (ear and throat medicine) at UC San Francisco. "Schools need to recognize that and get strategies in place." -more-

Berkeley health officials are allowing more public activities indoors and outdoors beginning Friday because COVID-19 cases and test positivity rates have been stable, city officials said Thursday. -more-

In case you didn’t already have reason enough to vote against Sacramento incumbents Nancy Skinner and Buffy Wicks: They oppose letting people work from home. In fact, they apparently even oppose reducing greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions. -more-

Those of us who live in California are residing in the third worst state with regard to unemployment. The current unemployment rate is 13.3 percent; There are more than two million without jobs, which is twice as many as last year. -more-

I hope my Skeptical Voter's Slate Card has already convinced you to vote against Berkeley Measure HH. This misleading ballot measure would raise our already-high utility tax to pay for greenwashed nonsense, or…anything else the City Council chooses to spend the General Fund on. But if you’re still unconvinced, the Council will soon reveal just how wastefully it might spend your money. -more-

The National Association of Realtors Fund (NARF) has now spent $107,517.28 supporting four of the candidates running on the “Homeowners for Rent Board” slate in this year’s election. A couple of campaign mailers were paid for with some of these funds and more may be on the way. -more-

It is October 24, 2020 and Berkeley along with a large swath of northern California is under another red flag warning with power shutoffs looming for those living in the highest risk areas. What a difference it would mean if the mixed-use projects (apartment buildings with a restaurant or commercial space on the first floor) in Berkeley were built like Soleil Lofts in Herriman, Utah. https://archive.curbed.com/2019/8/27/20835206/apartment-solar-salt-lake-city-loft -more-

UC Berkeley student representatives have published an open letter decrying UC’s plans to demolish 1921 Walnut St. and build student housing on the parcel. While students desperately want more student housing, they reject the idea that housing should be built at all costs to the community. UC purchased 1921 Walnut St. in July 2020 and since April 2020, UC has openly stated their intentions to demolish the rent-controlled building. -more-

Dear Chancellor Christ,

We’re writing to you directly with the intention of being as transparent as possible with you, and the entire campus community, about our opposition to University’s potential plans to displace the residents of 1921 Walnut Street.

We’re also writing to you publicly to express our frustration with your administration’s refusal to communicate transparently with the tenants of 1921 Walnut Street and other members of the Berkeley community. We’re compelled to make students aware of the dismissive attitude of the University, and express our solidarity with the tenants of the 1921 Walnut Street Association and the larger Berkeley community. Students do not want to displace other people in the city. -more-

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The final 2020 presidential debate didn't change the minds of Democrats and Republicans. This was a debate targeted for the very few undecided voters They saw a memorable conflict between "Mister Rogers" (Biden) and "Crazy Uncle Don" (Trump). -more-

David Carradine starred in the 1970's TV series "Kung Fu," in which he demonstrated considerable knowledge of that Martial Art (albeit his abilities were exaggerated for the program). He died not so many years ago in bizarre circumstances that I won't go into. -more-

The Biden-Trump Debate in a Nutshell

The New York Times assessment of the final presidential debate was brutally succinct: "Asked about the environment and race, Trump did not mention the environment or race." "Trump, the current president, tries to paint himself as the outsider against Biden." "In their closing statements, Trump attacks Biden while Biden offers a vision for the country."

With his mass appeal for national unity over division, science over fiction, and truth over lies, Joe Biden exposed Donald Trump as the criminal he is. In other words, the Biden-Trump face-off was a case of Mass Demeanor versus Misdemeanor. -more-

Worth Noting:

What did and did NOT happen the week in City meetings October 20 – October 23, 2020. After nearly one year of waiting the Disability Commission was able to present to City Council the Framework for Navigable Cities including the difficulty of navigating in a wheelchair on Berkeley’s failing streets and sidewalks. Migrating and local birds are still waiting for Berkeley to catch up with other Bay Area cities to require bird safe glass - the ordinance was passed by City Council November 12, 2019 and is stalled at the Planning Commission. The 11 home owners with improperly assessed property taxes by Berkeley by being overcharged while larger properties are being undercharged are still waiting for just resolve. The youtube video explains the problem. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yh-sEdAn8p4&feature=youtu.be



What is ahead:

Daylight Savings Time ends November 1.

The Ashby and North Berkeley BART Community Advisory Group has “office hours” 5:30 – 6:30 pm Monday and Wednesday.

Tuesday – City Council is at 6 pm nearly everything is on consent. Item 24. is a presentation on the City response to COVID-19.

Wednesday – Police Review Commission 7 pm will finalize the proposed Ordinance on the Use and Acquisition of Controlled Equipment and the Chair will report on the Mayor’s Working Group on Fair and Impartial Policing.

Thursday – Various discussions are percolating in Berkeley in response to the Civic Center Plan with concerns and alternatives that came to light at the Civic Arts Commission subcommittee meeting Friday, October 23. There is a follow-up discussion at 11 am on the Civic Center plan. John Caner johncaner@gmail.com is the contact. The Civic Center Plan will be on the LPC agenda November 5. The last published T1 Phase 2 is at 6:30 pm with a focus on the waterfront. There is a Bayer sponsored community meeting on plans for expansion at 6 pm. Preregistration is required. -more-

The Berkeley/Bay Area team behind the anti-Vietnam-war documentary, "The Boys Who Said NO!" just saw their many years of hard work pay off when the film won the Audience Favorite Award for documentaries at the 43rd Mill Valley Film Festival. -more-