Columnists

On February 11, my wife and I got our first dose of the coronavirus Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine; we get our second dose on March 3. We are relieved to get some protection from the virus even though we will continue to wear masks when we leave the house, observe social distancing, avoid crowds, and generally stay at home most of the time. -more-

The mental health treatment system and other authorities can force us to accept treatment. And much of the time, this is helpful. But they cannot force us to believe their spiel that we are intrinsically inferior.

It is hard enough for a young adult to acknowledge and accept that they have a serious mental disorder. They should never, on top of that, try to swallow the pill that says they will never amount to anything, that they will never be able to have a professional career, that they will not be accepted in society, and that they will never be normal.

A psychiatric disability doesn't equate with dumb. Ignorance is widespread concerning psychiatric problems, and even people of high intelligence and achievement often do not really understand that being mentally ill does not mean you can't do anything of substance. Talented people often fall prey to the same ignorant beliefs as anyone else. -more-

Trump Ups Room Rates for His "Second Inauguration"

Not all QAnon cultists have abandoned ship since the failed arrival of "Judgment Day" on January 6. Q's most fervent followers are now looking forward to Donald Trump being sworn in as the next president—on March 4, 2021(the official Inauguration Day until 1933). And apparently, Trump still believes he has a chance to return to power.

The evidence? According to Forbes, the Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC has raised the prices of its room rentals three-fold for the period of March 3-4. No other DC hotels have raised their daily rates—let alone tripled them.

This "Trump Bump" also happened last month, when the Trump Empire jacked up the price of its rooms for January 5-6—coincidentally coinciding with the day that Trump Tweet-ordered his true believers to show up in Washington with the veiled promise: "Big protest in D.C. … Be there, will be wild!”

The cheapest rooms for the day of Trump's March 4 "inauguration" start at $8,000 a day.

It looks like Trump has not given up on his hopes to regain control of the White House—nor has he given up on schemes to enrich himself at the expense of the Always-Trumpers. -more-

Thankfully, some city meetings were canceled this week so the impeachment trial could take center stage during the day and space was left for the evening rehash.

With only four meetings of significant note and a need for shifting your attention, this Activist’s Diary starts with where you can have the most impact to shape an ordinance or influence a decision, City Council Policy Committees.

It was December 11, 2018 when City Council voted to create six standing Council Committees. After two years with this new arrangement, it still feels like people think the place to comment to influence a decision is at the regular Council meeting. Council meetings are the fallback position when we lose in committee or an item skates through to the regular meeting agenda without going through committee.

The six committees are: 1) Agenda & Rules Policy Committee, 2) Budget & Finance Policy Committee, 3) Facilities, Infrastructure, Transportation, Environment & Sustainability Policy Committee, 4) Health, Life Enrichment, Equity & Community Policy Committee, 5) Land Use, Housing & Economic Development Policy Committee and 6) Public Safety Policy Committee https://www.cityofberkeley.info/citycouncil/.

These meetings are during the daytime, which makes it harder for people with daytime jobs and responsibilities to attend. This is where neighborhood and community groups can coordinate input by sending representatives. -more-