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Press Release: Students are not pollutants

Assemblymember Buffy Wicks
Thursday March 17, 2022 - 09:30:00 PM

Like many of you, I was infuriated and heartbroken at the news that up to 5,100 students who would have otherwise qualified for admission to UC Berkeley this fall might lose their spots because of a lawsuit brought by a small group of Berkeley residents who don’t want students as their neighbors.

The lawsuit was brought under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and it in effect made the argument that students enrolled at Berkeley should be treated as pollutants–all because a small group of residents don’t want more students in Berkeley. This is the same group that simultaneously fights any new attempts by UC Berkeley to build new housing for students.  

 

--------------------------------------------------------- Assemblymember Wicks is running for re-election this year. 

 


California Legislature and Governor Approve Law to Duck Court's Ruling On UC Berkeley's Enrollment Increase

Mikhail Zinshteyn, Cal Matters
Monday March 14, 2022 - 08:28:00 PM

State lawmakers and the governor have approved a legislative fix they say will get UC Berkeley out of its enrollment jam and limit a judge’s ability to slap public colleges with similar orders to cap their enrollment if they blow past their student population targets. 

Senate Bill 118 debuted last Friday and sailed through both houses of the Legislature today. The governor signed it into law this evening. It goes into effect immediately and applies retroactively to UC Berkeley. 


“I’m grateful to the Legislature for moving quickly on this critical issue – it sends a clear signal that California won’t let lawsuits get in the way of the education and dreams of thousands of students, our future leaders and innovators,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom in a written statement. 


Moments later, UC Berkeley said it is now sending admissions offers to every student it sought to admit were it not for the court-ordered enrollment cap. All of those admissions offers will be for the fall term and in-person. The university is scrapping its plan to shuffle more than 1,000 students either online or to a delayed start in the spring. 

Why we’re here 

The legislative fix targets aspects of the California Environmental Quality Act, the law at the center of a court order that UC Berkeley cap its enrollment at 2020-21 levels. Alameda Superior Court Judge Brad Seligman’s order last year to hold UC Berkeley’s enrollment at 2020-21 levels was a response to residents in the city of Berkeley who sued the university, challenging the impact the school’s enrollment growth would have on city services, scarce local housing and noise.
That order thrust the campus into a mad scramble to find a way to cut its fall 2022 in-person campus enrollment by 2,600 students. To fulfill that mandate, the coveted UC campus devised a plan to enroll some new students online or have them start in spring of 2022, avoiding a feared reality in which the university would have to cut its new incoming class by 2,600 undergraduates. 

The UC sought to reverse that enrollment cap, but the California Supreme Court rejected that appeal this month.
With the new law, UC Berkeley can scrap that devised plan and reinstate slots for about 400 graduate school students that were initially cut as part of the campus’s mitigation strategy. 

The legislative fix will do two things 

First, it removes campus enrollment as a “project” in the eyes of the environmental law. The removal makes it impossible for litigants to challenge a school’s growth plans by targeting its student enrollment alone. Lawmakers and some legal experts feared this case and a previous one opened the door for community groups to sue other colleges for their increases in student attendance. Instead, the Legislature is using a new definition — campus population, rather than student enrollment — to measure a school population’s environmental impact. Campus population can include not just students but also employees. The UC has said it is the state’s third-largest employer. 

A legislative analyst told the Assembly’s budget committee today that the student enrollment at two UC campuses, UCLA and UC Santa Barbara, have exceeded those campuses’ development plans. No UC campus has so far exceeded its campus population targets.  

Next, the legislative fix prevents a court from initially ordering a campus population cap if a judge deems that a campus exceeded its campus population goals. Instead the judge would tell a public higher-education campus to find ways to remedy the impacts of the population growth, such as through increased housing. If the campus fails to certify the updated environmental impact report within 18 months of a court order, then a judge can establish a campus population cap that’s tied to the school’s most recent planning document, known as a long-range development plan.
Looking at campus population rather than student enrollment isn’t a fix that’s necessary for the UC Berkeley saga, but it’s seen as a way to protect student enrollment in the future in the event a campus does have to lower its overall population by court order. A campus could, for example, bring back fewer workers, sparing as deep a hit to student enrollment. The new law is also meant to avoid a situation in which a campus has to cut its population weeks before it starts admitting students. The 18-month window gives colleges time to address the flaws in their environmental reports without risking admissions offers to students.
The new law “strikes the right balance,” said two leading lawmakers in a joint statement last week — Anthony Rendon, the Assembly speaker and a Democrat from South Gate and Phil Ting, a Democrat from San Francisco and chairperson of the Assembly’s budget committee. “It aims to make sure that environmental analysis of campus development plans continues to consider campus population impacts, while also giving higher education leaders a chance to remedy deficiencies before enrollment reduction mandates are issued.”
Not all lawmakers were pleased. “This bill unfortunately rewards the mistakes of the UC,” said Assemblymember Luz Rivas, a Democrat from San Fernando, who added the bill should have gone through a lengthier policy study. Still, she backed the bill to support students.
A key issue in the suit that led to the enrollment cap is that in the 2005 long-range development plan, UC Berkeley said its enrollment would be around 33,000 students in 2020. Instead, the university enrolled nearly 43,000 students in fall 2020. UC Berkeley has argued it doesn’t control its enrollment, the UC system and lawmakers do. The judge ordered the UC campus to study the environmental impacts of that enrollment growth and to consider alternatives to its campus population — and capped enrollment in the meantime. 

“This isn’t really (California Environmental Quality Act) litigation run amuck but a case where UC Berkeley disregarded the clear, long-standing requirement to plan for increased enrollment,” Rivas said. 

Next steps 

UC Berkeley will likely have to submit new legal paperwork to begin the process of lifting the enrollment cap — either to judge Seligman or the appeals court slated to hear the full scope of the case sometime this year. 

The group behind the lawsuit, Save Berkeley’s Neighborhoods, will file court documents protesting that move, said Phil Bokovoy, the group’s president. At the same time, a court may decide that today’s legislative fix itself is unconstitutional, which would trigger another protracted legal battle. 

There are other possible headwinds. Even if the court agrees the enrollment cap should be lifted, “I don’t see how the case could be dismissed in time for them to send admission letters out” by March 24, said Bokovoy. That’s the deadline UC Berkeley to let applicants know whether they’re admitted (some letters have already gone out). But the university may have some slack; generally, students across the country, including at UC Berkeley, don’t have to put down deposits to attend a college until May 1.  

UC Berkeley itself had no comment on the legal approach they’ll take if the bill becomes law, when CalMatters reached out last week. 

State needs more housing 

“Let’s focus on the real issue here: We need to build more student housing,” said Assemblymember Kevin McCarty, a Democrat from Sacramento who is chair of the budget subcommittee on education, told CalMatters.  

He backs the legislative fix and also is proposing a bill to create a $5 billion zero-interest loan for the state’s public universities and colleges to build student and faculty housing. That amount should create 20,000 to 25,000 more beds. That’s on top of another $2 billion the state plans to spend on student housing.  

Berkeley resident Bokovoy said campuses should build housing first before adding more students. “Adding more population to the campus before you solve the housing problems is going to have a lifelong impact on those students because they are going to struggle to be successful while they’re here,” he said.
Already a third of college students struggle with housing instability and tens of thousands experience homelessness.
Another bill would exempt certain campus housing projects from the environmental quality act. Other legal experts want the law to stop viewing population growth as a form of pollution. Backers of the act say it keeps communities environmentally safe.
But the university isn’t the only player in developing insufficient housing, said Sen. Nancy Skinner, a Democrat from Oakland who is chairperson of the Senate’s committee on the budget. She noted that the city of Berkeley’s voters passed an ordinance in 1973 that severely restricted the creation of apartments. “We have had our local governments not as willing to build the housing that we know that our state needs,” she said. 

 

Mikhail Zinshteyn has been a higher education reporter since 2015. As a freelancer, he contributed to The Atlantic, The Hechinger Report, Inside Higher Ed and The 74. Previously, he was a reporter at EdSource... This article first appeared on CalMatters.org. 


Governor Newsom: Veto SB118

Phil Bokovoy
Monday March 14, 2022 - 08:06:00 PM

SB 118, passed today by California State Legislature, is poorly drafted and confusing, hurts students rather than helping them, allows admission of a small number of additional students to the UC Berkeley campus in 2022, and does nothing to solve the dire situation that UC has created for students in California. 

“We hope that Governor Newsom recognizes that SB118 will hurt students more than help and not sign this bill. UC Berkeley does not have the capacity to handle more students, and more than 10% of current Berkeley students suffer homelessness during their education. In addition, more than 15% suffer from food insecurity” said Phil Bokovoy, President of Save Berkeley’s Neighborhoods. “We don’t want new students to have to live in cars, campers and hotel rooms like they are in Santa Barbara” 

Despite overwhelming evidence that UC has failed to house and support students, increasing rates of student homelessness, and increased campus crowding to the point that many students can’t graduate in four years, the bill allows UC to continue its rapid enrollment growth with no mitigation even where a court finds that UC has failed to analyze or mitigate population growth impacts. 

“We anticipate that this poorly drafted bill will result in more litigation, and without the legislature imposing a legally binding requirement for UC to build housing before increasing enrollment, the housing crisis will get worse,” he continued. 

“While politicians have been saying that CEQA views students as “pollutants” the real issue is that population growth, students or otherwise, causes environmental impacts that need to be analyzed and mitigated. Increased population density – for any development – results in environmental impacts that must be analyzed. This misguided bill gives the UC a unique free pass to avoid analyzing impacts associated with its own enrollment decisions directly impacting population density on campus and in the surrounding communities.”


Open Letter to Sen.Nancy Skinner and Rep. Buffy Wicks

Carol Denney
Monday March 14, 2022 - 02:18:00 PM

[Editor''s Note: This bill was passed. The governor has not yet signed it.]

Please rethink your support for the effort to allow unlimited enrollment at UC campuses. The Los Angeles Times' March 6th editorial illustrated how easily UC could use under-enrolled state campuses, such as Humboldt State and Santa Rosa's Sonoma State, as additional university sites rather than this horrifying new policy of park and landmark destruction. This one is easy.

The Los Angeles Times is as conservative as they come. Even they see the point of using existing facilities, rather than building entirely new ones, which every sentient being knows comports with climate change best practices.

Pull yourself out of the myopia of allowing wealthy donors to determine every decision governing those of us who remember what an education was supposed to be and are paying the price for what it has become. We can restore our university system. Monetizing every public amenity that exists is unsustainable policy.


Press Release: Senate Bill 118 is No Solution to UC's Excess Enrollment Woes

Save Berkeley’s Neighborhoods
Friday March 11, 2022 - 01:18:00 PM

Save Berkeley’s Neighborhoods says SB 118 is poorly drafted and confusing, and wouldn’t solve the dire situation that UC has created for students in California.



SB 118, introduced today in the California State Legislature, is poorly drafted and confusing, attempts to admit a small number of additional students to the UC Berkeley campus in 2022, but does nothing to solve the dire situation that UC has created for students in California.

Despite overwhelming evidence that UC has failed to house and support students, and increased campus crowding to the point that many students can’t graduate in four years, the bill would allow UC to continue rapid enrollment growth with no mitigation for least for 18 months after a court finds that UC has failed to analyze or mitigate growth impacts.

“We are very disappointed to see that the legislature is reacting in such an ill-considered way to UC Berkeley’s cynical use of students as pawns,” said Phil Bokovoy, President of Save Berkeley’s Neighborhoods. “Instead the legislature should be focusing on the dire situation of students who face often insurmountable problems with housing, crowded classrooms and the inability to graduate in 4 years. Low income students have suffered the most from UC Berkeley’s 50% enrollment growth since the early 2000s.”

The bill attempts to allow UC to continue to increase enrollment far beyond current levels, even if that enrollment has severe impacts on the local community. For example, in the last 18 months, UC Berkeley increased enrollment by over 2700 students. Those 2700 students have likely displaced additional low income households in Berkeley. Further increases for the Fall of 2022 will only accelerate the local housing crisis. 

“We are hopeful that the legislature will work with local university communities across the state to craft a more carefully targeted bill to address both the needs of our deserving California high school graduates and communities where UC has created a housing crisis. No community wants to be the next Santa Barbara, with hundreds of students living in cars and motel rooms.” 

“While politicians have been saying that CEQA views students as “pollutants” the real issue is that population growth, students or otherwise, causes environmental impacts that need to be analyzed and mitigated. Increased population density – for any development – results in environmental impacts that must be analyzed. This misguided bill gives the UC a unique free pass to avoid analyzing impacts associated with its own enrollment decisions directly impacting population density on campus and in the surrounding communities.”


Daniel Dean
1928 - 2022

Shirley, Daniel and John Dean
Monday March 07, 2022 - 09:46:00 PM

Daniel Dean, known simply as Dan, of Berkeley, passed away at the age of 93 on February 17, 2022 from COVID related pneumonia.

While born in Oakland, he lived 86 years of his life in Berkeley during which he was deeply involved in improving the lives of children and their families through counseling and education. For 56 years he was the beloved husband of former Berkeley City Council Member and Mayor, Shirley Dean, loving father of Daniel and John, and grandfather of two.

Dan had a life-long commitment to education and counseling. He attended Hillside Elementary School where he was a member of the fledging Junior Traffic Control, attended then called Garfield Jr. High and Berkeley High School and on to UC-Berkeley where he was a member of Theta Xi fraternity. As his life goals began to become more focused, he went to work as a counselor in the California Youth Authority facility, Fricot Ranch School in San Andreas, California. At that time, Fricot housed boys as young as eight years who had been committed to the CYA for crimes as serious as murder. He worked there for about two years when he decided he wanted to do more to prevent children from entering a life of crime, so he enrolled at San Francisco State University where he obtained a Master’s Degree and met the requirements that enabled him to work as a teacher and as a State Certified Guidance Counselor. 

At that time, it was rare to have a man be an elementary school teacher, but in spite of that, he went to work at the Harvey Green Elementary School in Fremont and loved it. He would go to work each day to a class that literally hung on his arms and hugged his legs they were so happy to have a father figure in their lives. But Berkeley called and he wanted to be part of the desegregation of the schools which was happening here, so he went to work as a teacher/counselor at Longfellow Elementary School with the goal of promoting the assignment of counselors to each school in Berkeley starting with the beginning of a child’s education. In the effort to desegregate, that goal got lost by the School District and he ended up as a counselor at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School, and then on to Berkeley High School where he worked for some 22 years. He loved every second of it and the happiest moments he had were when some parent or former student would stop him on the street and talk with him. He always seemed to remember each student by name. 

Dan and Shirley were married in 1956. They both became deeply involved in City matters when they helped form the Bonita Berryman Neighborhood Association in response to a developer demolishing two historic homes and replacing them with a “ticky-tacky” undistinguished apartment building. They soon discovered that Berkeley didn’t have a landmark preservation ordinance so they worked with a group of like-minded residents to get one approved. Busloads of architectural heritage officials who were attending a major national conference in San Francisco were organized to tour Berkeley’s historic homes and the first ever annual calendars were published featuring Berkeley’s architectural heritage. It took at least two years, but the City’s first Landmarks Preservation Ordinance was approved and remains in place. 

Dan was always a worker in Shirley’s political campaigns. From their neighborhood work, Shirley was elected citywide to the Berkeley City Council in 1975 on her first try for office mainly because Dan organized a citywide campaign that called for placing at least one of her signs on every block in the City. He never wavered in his support and when the Council adjourned for the month of August and the whole family spent that month at a cabin in the Sierras, when she was called back to Berkeley for an emergency Council meeting, he willingly would drive four hours back to Berkeley, wait through a sometimes long meeting and then drive four hours back to Alpine County. Sometimes he would do this more than once during the month! When Shirley received a special appointment through the National Mayors’ Conference, he loved talking with the mayors and people he met in Israel and Palestine. He was a vital part of the Berkeley delegation that was invited to visit Hunan Province in China and along with the relationship discussions, he assisted a farmer with his overloaded donkey driven cart that had blocked a major road. He calmed mayors from various US cities as they rode in Big Balloons which dipped from ground to floating high in the sky in Boise, Idaho. On behalf of Berkeley, he graciously hosted a member of the New York City Fire Department who had survived the September 11 attack on the Twin Towers. 

Dan had a real gift as a walking oral historian who had many stories to share. He loved to talk to any and all, and on a moment’s notice, he would paint vivid word pictures of life from decades past and frequently tell about living in Berkeley like how his aunt’s house was saved by UC-Berkeley students in the 1923 fire that burned down much of Berkeley, and when it snowed in Berkeley in 1933 and 1976.  

He was so proud when Lahainaluna High School in Maui, Hawaii presented him with a poster celebrating its historic past when Dan’s ancestor, Lorrin Andrews, was its principal. He wanted people to know that Lorrin Andrews refused to take promised monthly pay from the group that sent missionaries to Hawaii because they accepted donations from slave owners. Also, that Reverend Andrews was a teacher who worked to preserve the Hawaiian language by writing the first Hawaiian-English Dictionary that is still in use today, and that he rose to become a circuit judge, a member of the Hawaiian Supreme Court and a member of the Hawaiian King’s Privy Council. 

Dan’s service in the military was very important to him. Though he never served overseas, he was very proud of the time he spent in the army as an MP that provided security to visiting Presidents. 

Throughout all, he was fascinated by nature and the outdoors. He had the gift of finding joy and happiness in the simple items, features and oddities in vegetation and animals and sharing his observations and the beauty of nature with others. Simply put, Dan loved to be outside. Fishing for native trout. Celebrating the sunrise at Haleakala in Maui and “tubing” down swift irrigation canals for a wild ride in Kauai, snorkeling, whale watching on the Napali Coast and enjoying spectacular sunsets over Hanalai Bay. Hiking and camping adventures along the Pacific Coast and Emigrant Trails. Taking official snow surveys in the Sierra. Climbing Round Top (10,381 ft). Building a sturdy cabin at 8,000 ft. Visiting Polar Bears up close and personal on the shores of Hudson Bay and dog sledding along the tundra. Skiing on Mr. Shasta, Dodge Ridge, Kirkwood and cross country. Enjoying the redwoods and just walking along the many trails in Tilden Park.  

Dan had the rare gift of finding joy and happiness in the simple, almost irrelevant, items and sharing those times with family and friends. Memorials in his memory are greatly appreciated by the family and it is suggested that anyone so inclined might consider making one in the following manner. Please purchase a California native milkweed plant and place it in your garden in a sunny location that is free of pesticides now and in the future. These plants are selected by Monarch Butterflies to lay their eggs on and provide food for the resultant caterpillars during their annual western migration in February and March. The Monarchs will remember that place and come back to you year, after year. They will bring beauty and happiness to you, your neighbors and all of Berkeley, but also serve as a reminder and memorial for not only Dan, but for ALL those that were victims of COVID everywhere that we will forever love and miss.


Opinion

Public Comment

Don’t Let our City Council Throw Shade on Berkeley’s Solar Panels

Rob Wrenn
Saturday March 12, 2022 - 11:31:00 AM

On Tuesday March 15, consultants working on Berkeley’s Zoning Ordinance Revision Project (ZORP) will be making a presentation to the Berkeley City Council about their proposals for upzoning Berkeley’s residential neighborhoods. Unfortunately, they are ignoring the impact that proposed zoning changes allowing for bigger and taller buildings could have on neighboring homes’ solar access and rooftop solar panels.

I would encourage people who think solar panels are worth protecting from shadowing by new development to e-mail the City Council (or call them) and tell them that you support objective solar access standards and protections for rooftop solar panels. Send e-mail by noon Monday if possible to council@cityofberkeley.info

No residential neighborhood upzoning without objective solar access standards and protections for solar panels!

Background 

A review of City of Berkeley permit records shows that there are about 4000 addresses in Berkeley where solar panels have been installed and additional permits are being issued every week. In 2020, it was reported that about 6.6% of homes in the state have solar panels. In Berkeley, the percentage is substantially higher, more like 15%. A record number of solar panel permits, over 550, were issued by the City in 2021. If permits were to continue to be issued at this rate, over 30% of Berkeley’s residential roofs could have solar panels by end of 2030. 

In addition, 668 addresses also have permits for energy storage systems (batteries), which amounts to about one sixth of the solar panel addresses. Over 85% of these addresses have had energy storage systems installed or permitted since the beginning of 2000. Some people are including energy storage in their solar panel installation permits while others are adding energy storage systems where solar panels were previously installed. Energy storage systems are very important because they provide electricity during hours of peak demand when the sun isn’t shining and, by doing so reduce greenhouse gas emissions created when PG&E and other utilities rely on electricity created by burning natural gas to meet peak demand. 

In Berkeley, a substantial number of electric vehicle owners are powering their EV chargers with rooftop solar panels; a majority of electrical vehicle permits are being issued to people with solar panels. It’s certainly less costly than paying PG&E for electricity given their current exorbitant rates. Electric vehicles are critical to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transportation. 

Installing rooftop panels is not cheap, but as panel prices have dropped, it’s become more affordable to middle class families. The savings from smaller PG &E bills over the life of the panels offset the substantial upfront cost of installing the panels. The City of Berkeley has been encouraging rooftop solar and won an award in 2018 for its efforts. Unfortunately, zoning changes, if they allow and result in shadowing of solar panels, could discourage installation of solar panels and energy storage systems and undermine Berkeley’s efforts to address climate change. To avoid this, it's essential that zoning changes include standards to protect rooftop solar panels from shadowing by the new development the zoning changes encourage. Other cities such as Fremont and Sunnyvale have implemented protections for solar panels. And numerous other cities, including El Cerrito have implemented objective solar access or “daylight plane” standards that determine how much a proposed building can shadow a neighboring property. 

Housing and rooftop solar panels 

The city doesn’t have to choose between more housing in residential neighborhoods and protections for solar panels. It can have both. It’s a matter of incorporating objective shadowing standards in the zoning; of requiring good design with adequate setbacks especially for higher floors. Plenty of housing is being built in cities that have already enacted solar access standards.The Council should ask staff and/or consultants to research objective standards to protect panels and solar access and such standards should be enacted before or at the same time as any upzoning of Berkeley’s residential neighborhoods. 

Why are objective standards necessary? Under California’s Housing Accountability Act, cities cannot reject housing projects that comply with objective standards such as allowable heights, setbacks and lot coverage. Cities cannot exercise discretion and reject a project that would have a negative impact if that project meets the existing objective standards. Berkeley currently only has objective solar access (or shadowing) standards for the north side of University Ave, which were implemented in conjunction with the University Avenue Plan. These standards have not prevented housing development on University. 

ZORP consultants are presenting a proposal that developers be allowed to build 4-unit, 35’ buildings with only 4’ setbacks by right, with no public notification or opportunity for public comment, on any residential lot. They have not addressed the possible solar access impacts on neighboring homes. With existing standards, shadowing is generally not a big problem in the middle of residential blocks. Most homes and small apartment buildings on residential streets are one or two stories. But if zoning changes allowing bigger, taller buildings are approved, it will increase the likelihood that in some cases new buildings will have a negative impact on neighboring properties with solar panels, unless protections for solar access and rooftop solar panels in the form of clear objective standards are implemented along with the upzoning. 

The impact of upzoning - 

Upzoning, changing the zoning code to allow more to be built on a lot, increases the value of the land that's upzoned. Upzoned properties become more attractive to speculators who can buy a single family or smaller rental property, demolish it and build the maximum building or buildings now allowed by the new zoning. When discussion of 4-plex zoning began in Berkeley, many people called for “No Upzoning Without Affordability” - the city should get some benefit from the increase in land values resulting from the zoning change enacted by the City. Some research shows that upzoning is associated with gentrification and higher housing costs. The smart approach to zoning changes is to enact changes that help meet city needs, such as the need for more affordable housing ,while avoiding detrimental impacts such as shadowing of solar panels. 

For more information about rooftop solar in Berkeley, or if you have comments or questions or would like to get involved, contact the Berkeley Solar Rights Committee at berkeleysolarrights@gmail.com


SMITHEREENS: Reflections on Bits & Pieces

Gar Smith
Friday March 11, 2022 - 01:45:00 PM

Weird Is the Word

On a recent visit to Urban Ore—the sprawling recover-and-reuse complex at the intersection of Seventh and Murray in West Berkeley—I discovered a stack of wooden doors on display in the outer yard. One door stood out. It was decorated with a multi-colored jumble of words and art. Herewith is a transcription of the door's odd and rambling message (Note: Each line was rendered in a separate color):

Hence, the Moose! What the CRAP, Paul?
Merry Cheetah Day! Give me that BOY.
I'm so fly I soar, so sore it HURTS.
I'm the werewolf of lust. HOWLWILING for your LOVE.
Poland? Broken jar of Emma on the dirt Sandy floor.
You're just a load of BANNANAS! Stay off me ties!

Wombology—the Study of WOMBO. Oh, that's DEVASTATING.
White Devil. Young L. WOAH! Said the Cow.
Trippy's what I do When I fall down the Stairs.

What kind of bonds are THESE?? And guess what?
I [heart sign] Pa/nCakes!

Borderline Insanity

The headline in the London Guardian paid a proper salute to Donald Trump's Loser Legacy. It read: "Trump's Border Wall Breached by Smugglers Over 3,000 Times." Echoing similar revelations in the Washington Post, the article noted that "smugglers" on both sides of the US-Mexico border had chopped their way through Trump's Big-ass Barricade "at least 3,272 times, mostly with common power tools found at hardware stores." 

Erecting 458 miles of Trump's new border wall cost taxpayers a whopping $11 billion but it was apparent as early as 2019 that armies of smugglers were defeating Trump's Billion-dollar Bulwarks armed with nothing more than "$100 power tools." 

And it wasn't just buzzsaws that beset the beleaguered barrier. Other sections have been toppled by high winds and damaged by monsoons. 

On one occasion, an entire SUV packed with 23 "illegal immigrants" drove straight through a breached section of Trump's "virtually impenetrable" border wall. As of 2021, repairs to the Indefensible Fence had consumed $2.6 million in taxpayer loot. 

Barbara Lee's Crowning Act 

Rep. Barbara Lee recently posed this question: "Did you know Black women are 1.5 times more likely to be sent home from work because of their hair? 

"For too long," Lee continued, "Black women have been told their natural hair is 'unprofessional.'" Barbara Lee does not agree: "Black hair is beautiful — and it’s time to end hair discrimination now." 

Rep. Lee's solution (backed by fellow Congresswomen Ayanna Pressley, Ilhan Omar, Bonnie Watson Coleman, and Gwen Moore) is called The CROWN Act. According to Lee, this bill would move us "one step closer toward ending hair discrimination and shifting the conversation about natural hair."  

Predictably, the bill was blocked by a bunch of silver-haired white guys otherwise known as "House Republicans." 

Undeterred, Lee has vowed to "continue to fight for the hair love revolution." So, if you're up for ending "hair discrimination," our Rep. has a petition you can sign. 

A Chronic Condition? 

I can remember when the SF Chronicle used to arrive in four distinct sections—World News, Bay Area News, Sports, and Entertainment. But that was before the Bay Area and Entertainment sections were merged. Last week, however, I noticed what could be another "frightening tightening" of the editorial/news belt: the first section of the paper contained only eight pages of newsprint instead of the expected ten. And what was missing? On two days out of the week, the editorial page failed to appear. Also missing: Letters to the Editor. 

When I checked my laptop to see if the missing content had been archived online, I could only find three posted letters from all of 2022. The next-most-recent letter was dated July 27, 2021. 

Ordinarily, I'd send the Chron a Letter to the Editor but, since I can't be sure it would appear, I'm posting it in The Planet. 

CyberWarfare: Coming to a Computer Screen Near You 

It looks like the threatened Superpower Cyber Showdown has already begun. I recently clicked on an article about the history of NATO, sanctions, and wars. The article was posted by RT News (previously known as Russia Today). Instead of the article, I was presented with the following alert:
"502 – Bad Gatway. That's an error.
Looks like we have got an invalid response from the upstream server. That's all we know." 

The Ukraine Invasion and the Suppression of the Media 

Radio Free Europe has posted YouTube videos accusing the Russian government of suppressing criticism of Putin's assault on Ukraine and posting sanitized reports on how Russian troops are not killing civilians. Here's an example posted on March 10: 

 

Now, it turns out, the latest act of State Censorship regarding the Russia/Ukraine conflict has occurred here in the USA. 

YouTube has apparently removed Oliver Stone's documentary, "Ukraine on Fire," from online viewing. Stone's film details Washington's role in the 2014 coup that toppled a democratically elected (but pro-Russia) president and documents how the US collaborated with Ukraine's neo-Nazi activists to install a new US-friendly regime. 

In the cause of free speech, the international No to War—No to NATO network has recently posted a new link to Stone's banned doc. You can now watch the entire video for free by clicking here: https://rumble.com/vwxxi8-ukraine-on-fire.html 

Oh the Joy, Annoy DeJoy 

Some rare good news from the Dem side. Sen. Chuck Schumer writes: "On March 8, the Senate passed a massive $107 billion Postal Service Reform Act!" This is huge, as Schumer explains, since "the USPS had been under attack by Trump and his cronies for years." 

"Thanks to our Democratic majority, we were able to save the USPS billions of dollars, reform restrictive rules, and guarantee mail delivery six days a week," Schumer writes. 

Soon after Donald Trumper-Tantrum appointed Louis DeJoy as Postmaster General in summer 2020, DeJoy ordered the removal of 671 mail sorting machines (ahead of the 2020 election), dramatically slowed mail deliveries, conspired in dicey financial deals with a sitting USPS board member, and allegedly reimbursed employees for political cash donations made to GOP campaigns." 

As one of the few holdovers from the Previous Misadministration, DeJoy recently proclaimed his intent to ignore President Biden's plan to replace the USPS's aging road fleet with a new generation of electric vehicles. Instead, DeJoy insisted that 90% of the new vehicles would be gas-burning, tailpipe polluters. 

The DeJoyification Campaign has found a strong ally in The Daily Kos, which echoes Schumer's goals: "The Postal Service Reform Act was the first major postal reform legislation passed in 15 years! … but [w]e still need to protect vote by mail, establish postal banking, and force DeJoy to buy electric mail vehicles instead of the dangerous gas-guzzlers he's demanding." 

The Kos vows to "continue to support and campaign for the USPS until its sustainability is ensured" but notes that "will not happen so long as Postmaster General Louis DeJoy stays in power." And that, The Kos proposes, can best be achieved by petitioning POTUS to get off the pot and Call for DeJoy’s Resignation. 

Camel Wrestling? 

The Care2 Petitions Team has come up with an unexpected campaign: putting an end to the ancient "sport" of camel wrestling. 

Every year, western Turkey has hosted an International Camel Wrestling Festival that draws huge crowds to watch as hundreds of camels (all male) engage in bitter battles for dominance. The animals get the injuries while their "owners" vie for trophies. 

 

As Care2 explains: "Thousands of eager spectators crowd together to watch the tournament, setting up barbecues and roaring as the camels dominate each other. Vendors even sell camel meat snacks and street food to viewers who munch on the cousins of the very animals they're watching. Ultimately, these animals will be made to tussle with each other until humans decide one of them is the victor — usually because one of them topples over, screams out, or retreats in fear." 

This year, 152 camels were trucked to the event but this time, "Turkish animal lovers spoke out in the camels' defense to raise public awareness about cruelty and exploitation." Naturally, there's a petition. "Dressing animals up and forcing them to brawl with each other just for our amusement is exploitation," the campaign complains: "Sign the petition to demand protections for camels and an end to this exploitative contest forcing camels to wrestle each other!" You can sign the petition here.  

Karmic Strips 

On the MLKing National Holiday, the Chronicle's comics pages included a single-panel strip by Patrick "Mutts" McDonnell that consisted of an array of animals—a chicken, a chimpanzee, a pig, a tiger, a cow, and an elephant—alongside a quote from Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. It read: "One day, the absurdity of the almost universal human belief in the slavery of other animals will be palpable. We shall then have discovered our souls and become worthier of sharing this planet with them." 

It turns out that King, unlike Mohandas Gandhi, preferred soul food over a vegetarian diet while Coretta Scott King and Dexter Scott King became vegetarians. (Cesar Chavez, Rosa Parks, and Susan B. Anthony also practiced vegetarianism.) 

PG&Egad! 

The watchdogs at The Utility Reform Network (TURN) have mass-mailed an alert warning that PG&E wants to increase the price of providing gas and electricity by 20%! As TURN rightly huffs: "Nobody gets a wage or benefits increase of 20% in a single year!" If any utility is to win a rate increase, TURN argues, the hike should be tied to the same Cost of Living Allowance that applies to retired Americans living on Social Security. 

If the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) agrees to the 20% rate hike, PG&E has already filed a request for another 30% rate increase in 2023! 

If the CPUC grants this $18.3 billion reward, the average energy user would be paying an additional $425 a year to remain a PG&E customer. And there's no guarantee the money would be spent on improved services—including wildfire prevention—instead of executive bonuses. And remember, TURN writes, under the CPUC's watch, "California utilities cut off power to over 2 million children and adults because they fell behind in their bills." 

The CPUC already has hosted two public hearings on the rate hike with the third-and-last set for March 22 (2-6PM). Call (800) 857-1917 to participate (Passcodes: 6032788# for English; 3799627# for Spanish). For more information see TURN.org or call (415) 929-8876, ext. 368. 

Volodymyr Versus Vladimir 

There's a new Change.org petition that's getting a lot of clicks. It calls for the Nobel Foundation to award the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky whose "leadership is inspiring millions." The petition also asks TIME Magazine to declare the Ukrainian leader its 2022 Person of the Year "to help recognize his bravery in the face of war … [while] leading his country in fighting to save his county and Europe from the aggression of war from the tyrant Vladimir Putin." 

But wait! It's called the "Peace Prize." This sound more like an argument for awarding Zelensky a "War Prize" for defeating The Villain of the Year. 

Surely, Zelensky has shown himself to be incredibly brave while inspiring his fellow citizens to resist Russia aggression by erecting barricades and arming themselves with Molotov cocktails. Bur arming civilians with government-issued assault rifles isn't exactly an exercise that honors peace. 

The Peace Prize really belongs to the nameless individuals who have jumped in front of armored convoys rumbling down highways and stopped the advance of tanks by kneeling down before the hulking machines. 

When news of the petition reached a global peace organization that I work with, it engendered a lot of online criticism, including the following email responses: 

• Just when I thought bad ideas about the war couldn't get worse.  

• Our reality has morphed into the stuff of nightmares! 

• Well, it should be a collective award in company with Biden and Putin, and the citation should be "for achieving peace on Earth via turning it into a post-apocalyptic graveyard, R.I.P. mother planet," with the award ceremony in hell pending after the extinction of humankind. [Note: The author is a Ukrainian nonviolent activist currently living in Kyiv.] 

• Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky would be joining quite a few warmongers as recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize including: Henry Kissinger, US (1973); Menachem Begin, Israel, and Anwar el-Sadat, Egypt (1978); 1994 Yasser Arafat, Palestine, and Shimon Peres Israel and Yitzhak Rabin, Israel (1994); Barack Obama, US (2009); Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopia (2019). In 1973, Le Duc Tho [North Vietnam] declined to accept his award of the Nobel Peace prize, demonstrating his integrity in such matters.  

Personally, I'd prefer to see the recognition go to (1) the diplomats who successfully negotiate a peaceful conclusion to the conflict or (2) to all those who rejected the call to establish a "no-fly-zone" over Ukraine. 

"No-fly Zone" sounds as innocent and antiseptic as bug-spray but it would involve direct engagement between Russian and US fighter jets in the skies over Ukraine. And that could quickly "go nuclear." If that happened, it would immediately turn the northern half of the planet into a "We're-all-gonna- die-zone." Stand down. And abolish nuclear weapons. 


Berkeley Building Standards Must Protect Solar Access
An Open Letter to the Berkeley City Council

Charlene M. Woodcock
Sunday March 13, 2022 - 01:56:00 PM

I hope that our city council majority will not acquiesce to lobbying from developers and the construction industry instead of serving the real needs of current Berkeley residents. We need the council to support our efforts to reduce our own and Berkeley's carbon footprint and to make sure our low-income neighbors aren’t pushed out by new highrise developments. We know that the vast majority of new residential units being built in Berkeley are rented or sold at market rate, and the market rate is steadily rising.

Thus new residential developments in Berkeley go primarily to wealthy buyers from elsewhere, many of whom are buying units as investments, not to provide housing for below-median income renters. We now suffer wind tunnels in downtown Berkeley, but this has not provided housing for low-income residents.

The council has an obligation to acknowledge and act on the contributors to the climate crisis. Berkeley residents are investing in providing clean energy from rooftop solar at a higher than average rate. We're replacing gas-guzzling cars with electric vehicles, often fueled by our rooftop solar arrays. We have endlessly urged the city council to require new construction to be as energy efficient as possible and to include 50% low income units, but these demands seem to go unheard when developers make conflicting demands to be free of local environmental or affordability requirements. 

Zoning changes must protect city residents from taller buildings that will shadow neighboring rooftop solar. The council has an obligation to support Berkeley residents’ efforts to address the climate crisis by reducing our oil/gas consumption. This obligation has been recognized in Fremont, Sunnyvale, El Cerrito, and other cities with objective solar access standards to limit shadowing of neighboring buildings. 

Other cities protect their residents’ investments in solar energy. It’s long past time for Berkeley to do so as well—to encourage energy efficiency and independence and to require new developments to be truly efficient and affordable to median and low-income residents. 

New zoning standards must represent these needs. We don’t want bigger, taller buildings in Berkeley unless they serve our goals of responsible energy policy and housing for low-income residents. The infamous trickle-down theory has been disproven many times over. 

It cannot be used to justify approval of more high rises.


ECLECTIC RANT: Trump, An American Quisling

Ralph E. Stone
Monday March 14, 2022 - 08:00:00 PM

emember, Vidlum Quisling, the despicable World War II Norwegian political leader. "Quisling" entered the English language because of him. His name is now a noun meaning "traitor" and "collaborator" in English. Trump is our American Quisling or let’s call him and his ardent followers “Trumplings,” a new word in English for Trump and those who still ardently support Trump after all he has said and done.

Consider that Trump bragged that Putin would not have invaded Ukraine if he were in office. But why would he when Putin saw an American president moving in a direction Moscow liked; Putin was just waiting for Trump to finish the job. 

Putin wanted to weaken the NATO alliance and the E.U. While president, Trump helped by undermining the NATO alliance and showed nothing but disdain for the E.U. Putin wanted to help authoritarians; Trump obliged by cozying up to authoritarians like Putin and Kim Jong-un of North Korea. Putin wanted to hurt Ukraine, and Trump helped by launching an extortion scheme that threatened to hurt Ukraine. (Remember Trump’s first impeachment?) And remember during the 2016 presidential election,Trump suggested that the United States should accept Russia’s annexation of Crimea. 

Putin wanted to weaken the U.S. political system, and again Trump obliged by aggressively doing that during his presidency. All of which is to say, why would Putin rock the boat during the Trump presidency when Trump was already steering it in the Kremlin’s preferred direction? 

Is it any wonder that Trump cheered Putin’s invasion of the sovereign nation of Ukraine in violation of international law, calling the invasion “pretty smart;” and “[H]e’s taking over a country for $2 worth of sanctions, I’d say that’s pretty smart,” Then he claimed that the invasion “all happened because of a rigged election, calling his deployment of troops into Ukraine “genius” and "very savvy.” 

Ler’s remember that Trump is a five-time draft dodger, apologist for neo-Nazis and racist sympathizers, groveling for approval from dictator Vladimir Putin, who he both feared and admired. In sum, Trump compromised our national security and threw NATO allies under the bus. All sent “To Russia With Love.” 

As John Bolton, National Security Advisor under Trump, succinctly described him, "Trump is a village idiot who couldn‘t find Ukraine on a map,"


ON MENTAL HEALTH: Do Mentally Ill People Have a Shot at Happiness?

Jack Bragen
Monday March 14, 2022 - 07:16:00 PM

When I feel as though I'm struggling to survive, happiness is not part of the short-term picture. And, in fact, I have been in situations in which keeping alive was up to me. In the early nineteen eighties, I was incarcerated for a short time, and was concurrently psychotic. This was one of two big tests that I faced when I was young.

The other test was this: in 1983, I worked as a night janitor, and I mopped and polished floors at "Flair" supermarkets, and one night a week at a local K-Mart. At a Flair market, in the early part of my shift, I discovered that I was not alone in the store. I was locked in the store along with two men with guns who wanted to rob the store. I had to stay there overnight and wait for the managers and other staff to show up. It was at that point when the two gunmen managed to obtain the contents of the safe and drive off with it. I had no certainty at the time that I would not be killed. The armed robbers were very serious that they did not want to be identified, because if I could identify them, they would probably be jailed. They wore ski hats over their faces with holes cut out for their eyes and mouths. They decided to spare my life. A lot of the reason that I'm alive and writing this is that I acted correctly in that situation.

Since then, I've had to redirect my career--no more night shifts. 

Yet, in the past five years, my life circumstances have become challenging in other ways. I've had to deal with remaining housed and keeping my basic needs met, on an amount of money that many would believe is impossibly small. I've had to take care of myself to the extent that I would not end up institutionalized or unhoused. I've had to jump through all the hoops the government has created, so that I could keep my Social Security benefits and my Housing benefits. When you are disabled, remaining housed is generally not a "given." It is something you can't take for granted and that you must take action to maintain. 

Under circumstances like the above, how could I be happy? Could I be happy? And then, there is the psych disability itself and how the symptoms interfere with brain function. And happiness involves many types of brain function. 

For men who have suffered from schizophrenia, incarceration is all too common. When incarcerated, including if lucky enough to receive treatment for the condition, happiness is not part of the picture. For mentally ill people, homelessness is common as well, and many of those with major mental illness who are unhoused do not have their wits about them enough that they could possibly survive. And, if a little bit older, age and medical conditions catch up. And if homeless, the conditions do not facilitate surviving, if we have medical issues. 

However, when we have our liberty and live in comfortable, secure housing, happiness has a chance to enter the picture. We might find a person who could become our friend. We might make many friends. We might hang around and watch a basketball game. When mentally ill, we must enjoy life on a smaller scale. Yet, life can bring enjoyment, when we are in treatment, and when our basic needs are met. 

Sometimes the brain condition interferes with happiness. And it may be possible to practice mindfulness, or we may get help from our prescribing psychiatric practitioner or psychiatrist. Yet, when we get older, we really deserve some comfort and some happiness, so long as we are not interfering with anyone else's lives. 

To the reader, be happy and be well! 

Jack Bragen is a writer who lives in Martinez.


THE PUBLIC EYE:The New World Order: Oil

Bob Burnett
Sunday March 13, 2022 - 02:04:00 PM

The February 24th Russian invasion of Ukraine has ushered in a dangerous new world order. In response to Vladimir Putin's intent to obliterate Ukraine, the US has formed a global coalition to isolate Russia. Crippling economic sanctions have been levied on Russia. This has impacted the price of oil.

Russia: Two weeks into the invasion, it's clear that Putin made two miscalculations: he underestimated Ukrainian resistance and the strength of the NATO coalition. Now Russia is suffering from severe sanctions: their participation in the global banking system has been curtailed; Internet connectivity has been throttled; assets of Russian oligarchs have been seized; and sales of fossil fuel have been restricted. In this article, I discuss the oil-related sanctions.

Russia has the 11th ranked economy in the world. (In 2021, $1.70 trillion GDP.) The US economy is number one ($22.99 trillion in 2021); by the way, California's economy is number five ($3.35 trillion in 2021). Compared to the United States, Russia's economy is unsophisticated. It is unusually dependent upon fossil fuel exports. ("Crude oil, petroleum products and natural gas comprise roughly 58% of total exports... Sales to Europe represent over 60% of total exports while Asia has an export share of roughly 30%. Russian exports to the United States, Africa and Latin America combined represent less than 5% of total shipments.")

While Russia is the third largest oil-producing country -- behind the United States and Saudi Arabia -- it is the number one oil exporter. According to the Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/03/08/russia-oil-imports-ban/) "[Russia] consumes about 3.45 million barrels a day while exporting more than 7 million barrels of crude oil and other petroleum products a day." 4.8 million barrels go to the West; that is, countries that are supporting sanctions. Of the remaining 2.3 million barrels, by far the most, 1.6 million barrels, goes to China. 

European Union: The Washington Post noted: "In the year ending in October, Russia supplied about a quarter of all oil imported by the European Union." The countries most dependent on Russian oil are Slovakia, Poland and Finland. About 32 percent of German oil comes from Russia. 

As the results of economic sanctions, some of these oil deliveries have ceased. Nonetheless, when the EU hit Russia with economic sanctions, it left open a portal in order to pay for oil. (https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/eu-excludes-seven-russian-banks-swift-official-journal-2022-03-02/) For example, the EU continues to transfer funds to Sberbank. 

In leaving open this financial conduit, the EU is betting that the war in Ukraine will be short-lived and, therefore, they can withstand criticism for "financing Putin's war" and continue receiving Russian oil they depend on. At the moment, it appears the war will drag on and reports of Russian atrocities will mount. As a result, there will be increased pressure on the EU to shut off Russian oil. (Or, Vladimir Putin may react to the impact of the other economic sanctions and retaliate by cutting off deliveries .) Writing in the Atlantic (https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2022/03/western-unity-putin-russia-ukraine/627013/), Tom McTague noted: "Each and every day for now, Russia receives $1.1 billion from the EU in oil and gas receipts, according to the Brussels-based think tank Bruegel. In total, oil and gas revenues make up 36 percent of the Russian government’s budget." [Emphasis added.] 

On March 9th, The European Union (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/08/business/european-union-russia-oil-gas.html) announced a proposal to cut reliance on Russian oil by two-thirds. "In the short term, the plan envisions that Europe would secure liquefied natural gas supplies shipped from elsewhere around the world." 

The big question is, "If the EU does not buy oil from Russia, where will it come from?" 

World Oil Supply: The United States is the world's largest oil producer, but we use most of our production. We rank seventh in oil exports. The major exporters are: United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Russia, Kuwait, Iraq, Canada, USA, Nigeria, Mexico, and Norway. 

About 20 percent of Germany's gas comes from Norway, via an undersea pipeline. This source is said to be running at capacity and is not capable of providing more in the near future. The implication is that, if Russia shuts off the oil spigot, the EU will need to be supplied by Arab states such as UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq. Early indications are that these countries will stick to the Organization of Petroleum exporting countries (OPEC) plan. [The members of OPEC are: Algeria, Angola, Congo, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Venezuela.] This plan advocates conservative production increases -- because many of these nations do not want to offend Russia. (https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/01/investing/premarket-stocks-trading/index.html ) They have no intention of replacing the missing Russian gas, cheaply. 

The United States has begun negotiations with Saudi Arabia. The Wall Street Journal (https://www.wsj.com/articles/saudi-emirati-leaders-decline-calls-with-biden-during-ukraine-crisis-11646779430 ) reported the Saudis resist increasing production: "They want more support for their intervention in Yemen’s civil war, help with their own civilian nuclear program as Iran’s moves ahead, and legal immunity for Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the U.S." 

The United States has also begun negotiations with Venezuela (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/8/venezuela-talks-us). It's too soon to tell what will result from these talks. 

The reality is that if Russia shuts off the oil spigot, the EU will be in a world of hurt. They will have to find other fossil-fuel sources, and they will be expensive. (OPEC, and many multinational oil companies, view the Ukraine War as an opportunity to make money.) 

Inflation: The Biden Administration has banned Russian oil imports (about 3 percent of our oil use). This ban will increase the price of gasoline, a major component of rising inflation. 

US Inflation has risen by 7.9 percent, a forty year high. (https://apnews.com/article/us-inflation-soars-776c03520c90083894fedf31f1a7db00 ) There are several components of this increase but the primary one is energy (Gasoline and electricity). (https://apnews.com/article/us-inflation-soars-776c03520c90083894fedf31f1a7db00 ) 

Coming out of a prolonged pandemic, some inflation should be expected because the normal economic system was disrupted. In the case of energy, this inflation has been increased by turmoil in the world marketplace. 

Republicans are seizing on inflation -- particularly gasoline price increases -- as an opportunity to bash President Biden. The reality is that rising fuel prices are primarily due to global marketplace conditions -- Biden Administration policies have played a negligible role. Writing in the Washington Post(https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/03/08/will-producing-more-oil-lower-gas-prices-it-hasnt-past/ ), Philip Bump observed: "What [my analysis] shows is that domestic gas prices are driven largely by international oil prices, because the American oil industry is intertwined with the global marketplace." That is, more domestic drilling or pipelines won't necessarily lower domestic prices. 

Summary: The current situation is both a problem and an opportunity. It's a problem because the war in Ukraine is a humanitarian disaster. It's a problem because the war exacerbates climate change. It's a problem because it's likely that the EU will lose access to Russian gas and this will cause economic and social problems. It's a problem because the price of gasoline is going to go up and up. 

Nonetheless, the spike in international oil prices is an opportunity for all of us to accelerate our departure from reliance on fossil fuels. For example, to buy that electric vehicle we have been considering. 

Bob Burnett is a Bay Area writer and activist. He can be reached at bburnett@sonic.net 


It's Time to Burn Your Sierra Club Membership Card, or It's A Sad Day When the Courts Stand Up for Redwoods But the Sierra Club Takes a Pass

Carol Denney
Sunday March 06, 2022 - 06:06:00 PM

People's Park advocates spent over a year providing information to the East Bay Sierra Club appealing for their support for People's Park remaining public open space in the densest, most under-parked area in town. One of the sympathetic members prepared a letter of support to present at their meeting, but pulled it from the March 1, 2022, agenda when "advocates" objected that they might look like NIMBYs, or "not in my backyard" people.

In the meantime, the University of California's Capital Strategies just unveiled a new plan not just to demolish a public park, an underground creek, and a community garden (People's Park) in favor of 12 stories of high-end, student-only housing --- they plan to demolish a twelve-story building on campus and replace it with open space.

The Sierra Club Executive Committee is not unaware that People's Park is full of redwoods and sequoia, pollinators and native plants. They are not unaware that retrofit and re-use is the greener alternative to demolition, or that demolishing parks is abhorrent. They include Berkeley City Council member Sophie Hahn and former Rent Board Commissioner Igor Tregub, neither of whom offered any objection to the default position the Sierra Club's Executive Committee is now taking: having nothing to say about sacrificing parks for housing when alternatives exist. 

Meanwhile, 10 empty acres closer to the campus than People's Park sits empty up at Smyth-Fernwald, UC property designated for housing (and former post-war housing) at the top of Dwight Way. Across the street, also closer to the main campus than People's Park, 50 acres at the Clark Kerr campus already has low-rise student and community housing amid a sea of empty, unused buildings and broken glass.  

The takeaway for anyone sentient is that we don't need to destroy our parks, our stream beds, our community gardens, our "quintessential public forum" as Judge Ramsey designated the court-protected People's Park stage which now has federal landmark status in addition to city landmark status, to build housing. Park supporters are not NIMBYs, or people who oppose housing. The takeaway is that YIMBYs have effectively sandbagged an organization that used to stand for parks. It's time to burn your Sierra Club membership card. Again.  

Signed, Dee Allen, Carol Denney, Martha Giddings, Hali Hammer, Michael Hughes, Professor Bruce Ziff


THE PUBLIC EYE:Going Rogue: The New World Order

Bob Burnett
Monday March 07, 2022 - 02:10:00 PM

The February 24th invasion of Ukraine has ushered in a new world order. Remarkably, it's like that predicted by George Orwell in his book, 1984: three perpetually warring superstates. (In 1984, these states were "Oceania," the english-speaking world and South America, "Eurasia," Europe and Russia, and "Eastasia," China and southern Asia.) Putin's act of war has created a wall between Russia and most of the western world, with Ukraine, Moldava, and Georgia as disputed territory. 

There are several consequences of this new world order; most of them grim. 

Ukraine: I hope I'm wrong, but I do not expect a rapid end to the Ukraine conflict. Putin is determined to seize all of Ukraine and erase it as an independent nation. Given what we've seen so far, I expect the situation to develop into a protracted war spreading across Ukraine, a nation 89 percent the size of Texas. Russia will occupy most major Ukraine cities and the Ukrainians will wage a modern guerrilla war. 

There will be many dangerous aspects of this lengthy conflict. The West will continue to arm the Ukrainians and this will further incense Putin, who is already enraged at the economic blockade -- which he described as "an act of war." (No NATO forces will fight within Ukraine; but there will be "volunteers" from the West.) There will be naval conflicts in the Black Sea and the Strait of Istanbul (the Bosphorus). There will be cyber warfare. 

Trade: Russia exports fossil fuel, minerals (such as Palladium), fertilizer, and grain to the West. These exports will stop as well as Ukrainian agricultural exports. 

A total blockade of Russia will create a fuel crisis in Europe. Some EU members are extremely dependent upon Russian gas; for example, Germany, Italy, Bulgaria, and Poland. There is no quick solution for these countries. (For example, Germany has no port suitable for the processing of liquid natural gas.) The US and Saudi Arabia will increase oil exports. 

The cessation of Ukrainian agricultural exports will create a food crisis in the Mediterranean region. The US and EU will increase food exports. 

The cessation of Russian and Ukrainian exports will impact the United States. Despite environmental concerns, we will adopt a "drill, baby, drill" attitude. Due to the increased demand for agricultural and petroleum exports, our economy will strengthen. A war economy will bring full employment. 

Rules of Engagement: The Russian invasion of Ukraine has established three new rules of engagement between the competing powers. The first new rule appears to be that nuclear weapons will not be used unless NATO forces enter the Russian sector. 

The second new rule is there will be no war in space. All nations will leave the International Space Station as is, and not interfere with other nations' satellites. 

The third new rule is that within the contested area (Ukraine for now , but Moldova and Georgia later), Russian troops expect to operate without outside opposition. There seems to be a tacit agreement that NATO can send arms to Ukrainian troops so long as no NATO forces enter Ukraine (apparently, this agreement also includes NATO providing planes to Ukraine). 

Cyberwar: Many observers have predicted that if things go poorly for Russia -- as seems to be the case -- Putin will lash out with cyber warfare. (So far there's been less than expected: Russians have launched cyberattacks on Ukrainian web sites and Anonymous has attacked Russian web sites.) As the economic blockade hardens, we should expect Russia to launch cyberattacks on the United States. They'll attack the obvious: financial institutions, energy companies, governmental agencies, shipping firms, etc. It will be a big deal; eg, expect the grid to go down for days. 

There are US social network and news media outlets in Russia. (Outlets such as Facebook and the New York Times.) These are being severely restricted and will, most likely, cease operations in Russia. Expect Russia to attack these same outlets , within the United States. 

Russia will attempt to increase disinformation in the West. 

Foreign Policy: On March 2nd, the United Nations voted to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 141 nations voted in favor of the resolution, 34 abstained (including China) and five voted no: Belarus, Eritrea, North Korea, Russia, and Syria. As the West blockades Russia, no doubt Russia will turn to China and India for trade. China will become Russia's largest oil customer. (India will also buy more.) 

The new world order will parallel that envisaged by Orwell in 1984. Russia will strengthen its alliances with the "stan" countries including Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. It will form new alliances with Afghanistan and Iran. 

China will strengthen alliances with India and Indonesia. 

What Orwell termed "Oceania" will be composed of the European Union, Great Britain, North and South America, most of Africa, Israel, the Arab peninsula, Iraq, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Thailand, Japan, and South Korea. There will be squabbles with a few countries such as Cuba and Venezuela, but these will be worked out. (For example, the US has already started new talks with Venezuela.) 

Climate Change: In the short term, the new world order will be a disaster for the climate change movement. Because there will be an energy "panic" in Europe, there will be enormous pressure in North America to produce as much oil as possible, so we can ship a lot of it to the EU -- to replace the oil no longer provided by Russia. (There will also be campaigns to move more rapidly to renewable energy.) 

US Politics: The longer the war in Ukraine continues, the more obvious it will be that the invasion of Ukraine is bad for Republicans. Bad, in general, because Americans will rally around Joe Biden, a Democrat. And particularly bad for Republicans who are die-hard Trump supporters. 

Trump has been weakened by the investigations into the January 6th insurrection and damaged by his admiration for Vladimir Putin and early support for the invasion of Ukraine. 

When the 2022 election season heats up, in many contested districts, we will see three sets of candidates: the Democrats. the Trump Republicans, and the "Recovering" Republicans. The Trump Republicans and the Recovering Republicans will split the conservative vote. 

Summary: Welcome to the new world order. Hold on, we're in for a rough ride.  

Bob Burnett is a Bay Area writer and activist. He can be reached at bburnett@sonic.net 


Press Release: Settlement Offer Benefits In-State Students at UCB

Phil Bokovoy
Saturday March 05, 2022 - 06:01:00 PM

Save Berkeley’s Neighborhoods offers partial relief to UC Berkeley from enrollment pause; 1,000 more deserving California high school students could attend UC Berkeley in person  

Save Berkeley’s Neighborhoods takes to heart California Supreme Court Justice Goodwin Liu’s admonition to SBN and the University of California to immediately engage in settlement talks to mitigate harm to California high school seniors. While SBN has documented that UC Berkeley has exceeded the City of Berkeley’s housing capacity and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future, in the spirit of moving forward SBN makes this offer to UC President Michael Drake:.  

SBN would agree to provide partial relief to UC Berkeley from the enrollment pause imposed by the Superior Court and agree to a temporary, partial, stay of the enrollment pause to allow enrollment at UC Berkeley during the 2022-23 academic year to increase from the current court ordered level of 42,347 to 43,347, approximately the Fall 2019 pre-pandemic level, provided that at least 90% of new undergraduate students matriculating at UC Berkeley in the 2022-23 academic year are California residents, and providing that UC does not attempt to exceed total enrollment of 43,347 for the 2022-23 academic year by further legal action in the courts or state legislature.  

According to the enrollment numbers provided in UC Berkeley’s public statement on Friday, our offer ensures that virtually all of the deserving California high school students that UC Berkeley would like to admit could attend during the 2022 school year, and no transfer students that UC Berkeley wants to admit would have their enrollment deferred.  

As we’ve stated many times in both our offers to UC and to the public, we are willing to enter into settlement talks based on the principle that enrollment growth can only take place with no further pressure on the City of Berkeley’s housing market. UC Berkeley’s own data show that Berkeley is losing large numbers of low-income households due to displacement by the increased number of students and UC Berkeley’s most recent long range enrollment plan admits that even by the year 2036-37, UC Berkeley will fail to provide housing for 46,574 students, faculty, and staff, with unaccommodated students making up 20,045 of that total. There are many ways to balance enrollment with housing capacity that would be consistent with the mission of UC Berkeley to educate our deserving California high school students and with the community’s goals of protecting the diversity that we all prize. 


Un-armed Berkeley Drop-In Center Manager Detained at Gun Point by BPD: Letter to Berkeley Mayor Arreguin

Katrina Killian, Executive Director, Alameda County Network of Mental Health Clients
Sunday March 06, 2022 - 08:19:00 PM

Honorable Mayor Jesse Arreguín –

We are writing to you, as we have received no response from the city thus far concerning the traumatic event that took place a month ago, on February 2, 2022. First to our representative, Honorable Ben Barlett, who joined us via Zoom to offer his sympathies. We also contacted Dr. Lisa Warhuus, Director of Health, Housing, and Human Services, who we are currently negotiating the Specialized Care Unit Bridge Services contract (Specification No. 22-11472- C) to provide Peer-Run non-police crisis response.

We request an immediate meeting with you, Mr. Mayor, Madam City Manager, Police Chief Jennifer Louis, and Dr. Lisa Wuurhus. The reason for our request is that on February 2nd, 2022 Jorge, Program Manager of the Berkeley Drop-In Center, a young Black father, was detained at gunpoint by Berkeley police officers. He recounts the incident as, “brutalizing, shaming, traumatizing and completely unnecessary” He says it “felt like they wanted to kill me.”  

The Berkeley Drop-In Center (BDIC), is the longest-running program of the Alameda County Network of Mental Health Clients (ACNMHC), and the building itself has been a hub of community service for more than 40 years. ACNMHC is one of the oldest Peer-run agencies in the nation, founded more than 30 years ago, and we are 100% staffed by folx with lived experience with mental health challenges, and experiences with substance use experience, homelessness, incarceration, and the child welfare system. We serve thousands of people each year and are on the ground supporting the folx who have been pushed at the margins, primarily BIMPOC adults.  

He was finishing putting up the last of Black History Month decorations when more than four police officers “approached [him] from behind with their guns out, they did not announce they were the police.” He was extremely terrified saying “because I had my black phone in my hand and knew if I made one move too quickly – I was just visualizing myself getting shot if I made the wrong move.” 

“I announced myself as the Berkeley Drop-In Center Program Manager, and they patted me down and it was evident I did not have a gun. By this time the Staff and the community came out saying that I worked here and was not doing anything wrong. Still, more officers continued to arrive and they kept me on the ground, handcuffed, for more than 15 minutes, knowing I had no gun, knowing that I was the Program Manager. I’m so confused that why after knowing I had no gun, they kept me detained, in handcuffs, and on the ground, and why more police officers continued to arrive” Following the incident, the Center had to close for several days to recuperate and ACNMHC had to hire trauma healers to support them moving forward. The Center contacted city officials, with no response.  

We are also calling for a Press Conference on Monday, March 7th, 2022 at 4:00 pm PT via Zoom (link to join) to inform the community and our allies of the continued actions of the Berkeley Police Department in matters of how it treats Black and other Folx of Color in our community.  

There have been continued efforts in the community emphasizing the ongoing need to reimagine and reform the Berkeley police department for higher public safety, including ending racial profiling, creating the Berkeley Police Accountability Board, Berkeley Reimagining Task Force for Public Saftey and Police. While this work is ongoing and the Berkeley police department is aware of the efforts being made to make it the best police department in the nation, the behaviors of our officers have not changed.  

We are very concerned for the safety of the staff members of the organizations who have been and continue to work on these efforts directly tied to community safety. We stand in solidarity with Jorge Colon, his family, and all marginalized people who continue to fear for their lives every day, just while doing their jobs.  

We are all committed to The Berkeley Drop-In Center located in South Berkeley and all efforts to make our community safer. Please make the effort to immediately schedule this meeting with us, at which I will be joined by Jorge Colon (Program Manager BDIC), Janavi Dhyani (Director of Operations), boona cheema (Vice-Chair, Reimaging Task Force and ACNMHC Board Member), and Gigi Crowder (Executive Director of NAMI, and ACNMHC Consultant). 

In solidarity with you in search of equity and justice,


A Berkeley Activist's Diary, Week Ending March 6

Kelly Hammargren
Sunday March 06, 2022 - 07:23:00 PM

It was a very full week and the survival of Ukraine and the Ukrainians hangs over everything changing minute by minute and hour by hour. It looks like Putin has decided that since the Ukrainians didn’t lie down and welcome the invasion, he will rain down massive destruction until there is nothing left to save. The “Z” on everything Russian presumably representing Zelensky is chilling. 

Locally a lot happened. I heard at the Community for a Cultural Civic Center on Monday that my accidental misreading of a meeting date and publishing that the Civic Arts Commission Visioning Subcommittee was meeting again generated a barrage of pushback from City staff. That clears up where the pressure to stop community planning is generated. The seismic cost estimates are in with $24 million for the Maudelle Shirek (Old City Hall) Building and $20 million for the Veterans Memorial Building. These estimates include finishing only for the seismic retrofits and not finishing, painting, etc for the rest of the buildings. We did not receive the water intrusion cost report. The presentation to council is scheduled for March 22. 

As probably many already heard, the Independent Redistricting Commission voted unanimously in support of the Amber 2 map. Seventeen members of the public attended the zoom meeting and nine spoke. No one opposed the Amber 2 map. There are a few more formalities to step through and the subcommittee is busy finishing their report. The meeting ended at 7:20 pm, early enough to catch the Zero Waste Commission. 

Zero Waste is actually a laudable goal, but attending meetings doesn’t give me any sense that the commission’s current leadership will get us there. This week I picked up an article which said that the world is on track to fill the oceans with so much plastic it will outweigh marine life by 2050. I commented that the commission update on plastic recycling was not helpful to me as a resident. We need direction on what to do. 

We need more ordinary people appointees to the Zero Waste Commission to offset the two who dominate and shut down input from others. Steven Sherman, District 1 appointee, insisted he shouldn’t have to pay for weekly garbage pick-up, because he doesn’t generate enough garbage for weekly pickup. Rather than turning the laborers who do refuse collection into policing who does and doesn’t put out their garbage can for pickup, this could have turned into a teachable moment in how to inform the community on waste reduction, especially since we are doing rather poorly in getting to that zero waste target. Maybe this call-out by name will change the focus from self to community. We can hope. 

The Facilities, Infrastructure, Transportation, Environment and Sustainability (FITES) Commission took back action on plastic bags from the Zero Waste Commission. That is a good thing. Councilmember Kate Harrison is the FITES Chair and at the Wednesday meeting she spoke about working with Berkeley Bowl to bring ideas forward. 

Number eleven in the Planning Commission agenda was the Approach to Bird Safe Berkeley Requirements. The presentation by Zoe Covello, Assistant Planner, as described last week centered around problematic local ordinances. It was obvious that most (not all – several had been following the issue) of the commissioners did not read the letters from the public nor did it appear they looked independently at the declining bird populations or the American Bird Conservancy website. Commissioners did ask for the science. When Glenn Phillips, the Executive Director of Golden Gate Audubon gave his credentials as a science expert and then proceeded to comment, he was cut off.  

This should be a lesson: As important as letters are as documentation of an issue, don’t expect them to be read. Showing up still matters, even when experts are stymied from presenting facts and science. 

Ben Gould, who was the Community Environmental Advisory Commission (CEAC) Chair when the proposed CEAC Bird Safe Ordinance was sent to Council, reminded everyone that it was written over 3 years ago. Then he stated that the American Bird Conservancy model ordinance should be used. 

We think of skyscrapers of being the killer of birds, but the threat of reflective glass and surfaces starts from the ground up. And, that is exactly what we heard from Erin Diehm, who has been following the issue of bird safe glass, bird safe features and dark skies on multiple fronts. 

Those of us who attended and spoke hope we made an impact and the “Approach to Bird Safe Requirements” will come back with the American Bird Conservancy model as the base, with a citywide requirement for 100% of the buildings from the ground up. Even with several commissioners supportive, we can’t expect that action without public pressure. The Planning Commission staff made it very clear that it is the City Manager who determines what is a priority and when staff will return with a finalized version. 

If the City Manager ever comes out pushing for aggressive climate and environmental action, I will need a cupboard full of smelling salts to bring me back from fainting. 

Erin Diehm regularly attends the Design Review Committee, informing committee members on the importance of native plants and habitat and highlighting problem landscape plans that fall below the needed minimum of 70%. In addition, in meeting after meeting, she points to choosing plants that support the leaf chewing insects that become food for birds and complete ecosystems. 

I missed the ceremony for the Urban Forestry Tree Planting Grant at James Kenny Park. There hasn’t been any noticeable success in gaining support from Forestry to plant native trees. As I once heard Erin explain, planting non-native trees and plants can be compared to taking away food from children and replacing it with kerosene. 

On the same day as the tree planting ceremony, the New York Times published https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/03/03/climate/biodiversity-map.html an article with a map of the places in the “…lower 48 states most likely to have plants and animals at high risk of global extinction…California has the most imperiled biodiversity of any state in the contiguous United States.” When we fill our land with non-native plants, as is happening with most of the trees put into the ground by the City of Berkeley, we are contributing to the problem. The same is true when we take home non-natives for our yards and gardens. Calscape https://calscape.org/ gives us an easy guide to choose wisely. 

Here is the link to check out SARS-CoV-1 RNA Levels in Wastewater in the United States from the CDC. https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#wastewater-surveillance Whether the presence and amount of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater is increasing or decreasing is a leading indicator of the direction COVID-19 will take in the community. If you go to the map you will see big gaps in where SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater is being measured. Fortunately for us, there are lots of sites in and around the Bay area, and our dots are blue, indicating declining presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater. 

The coming week is filled with proposals, reports, meetings and a press conference on policing. One of the recommendations from the National Institute for Criminal Justice (NICJR) is guaranteed income or universal basic income for families living in poverty. The report is using pre-pandemic statistics as that is all that is available, but it is still alarming that in this highly educated rich city, where the median “sold” home price is now $1.6 million, so many are living in poverty, 19.1%. The rate of poverty for Alameda County is 14.1%. 

I finished the book Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival and Hope in an American City by Andrea Elliot, 2021. It is a hard read and very much worth your time. I wanted so much for Dasani, the homeless eleven-year-old whose life we follow until she is nineteen to break the cycle of poverty, but the story of Dasani is real life. The ties to family even a very dysfunctional one are strong much stronger than opportunity which comes with the price of leaving a known identity, siblings and life behind. One of the reviews I read after I finished by Erika Taylor said of the book “… [it] is sure to linger after the last page is turned.” And, that is so true. 

What do we do differently as a society? We see the homeless in the street, the parks, their tents and want to turn away, but rarely do most of us see homelessness, poverty, hunger, through the eyes of a child. 

Giving cash with no strings attached to low-income mothers with newborns was the last segment featured on Saturday’s PBS Newshour. The New York City guaranteed income program is “The Bridge Project”. Referenced in the segment though not by name was the just published “Baby’s First Years”, the study to understand how poverty reduction affects child development by giving a low-income mother $333 a month versus $20 per month https://www.babysfirstyears.com/ 

The Planning Commission held a public hearing on amendments to Citywide Affordable Housing Requirements on Wednesday evening followed with the same material at the Housing Advisory Commission on Thursday evening. Both commissions listened and responded as if there were ample open land to build affordable housing in this 10 ½ square miles of ground called Berkeley. Not all of that 10 ½ square miles is buildable. 

There is the Hayward fault, hillside slide areas and high fire zones on the east, and liquefaction and a future of rising sea level and groundwater on the west. 

While the law has changed and cities can now require including units for low income households in market rate housing developments(inclusionary housing) rather than allowing payment of fees in-lieu of including units, neither commission endorsed this. That should leave one wondering just exactly how Berkeley will meet the state requirement for 43% (3854) of the 8934 units required to be built between 2023 and 2031 to be for extremely low and low-income households. Both commissions accepted the staff-recommended in-lieu fee structure by square foot instead of per unit and the recommended fee amount, despite a healthy showing of housing developers insisting on lower fees and exceptions at the Planning Commission. 

I have yet to see plans for six, seven and eight story multi-use projects pop up in District 5 along Berkeley commercial corridors like Solano from Curtis to The Alameda. There is, of course, the price of land and current zoning, but spreading moderate density housing with inclusionary units throughout the entire city, not just the formerly redlined areas, would be an interesting move. Maybe that is a better approach to changing the face of Berkeley and biased policing than surveillance and programs hinting at “stop and frisk” for South and West Berkeley. Which brings us to the February 2 incident at the Berkeley Drop-in Center. 

The attached letter describing what happened on February 2, 2022 to the Program Manager at the Berkeley Drop-in Center was forwarded to me. There is a Press Conference scheduled for 4 pm Monday and you can bet I will be tuned into zoom to watch it. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82998271252?pwd=TW5pUFVYNHorLzYwZXlwTUJTeDRWZz09 

 


Putin’s Insanity

Jagjit Singh
Sunday March 06, 2022 - 08:28:00 PM

The insanity and humiliation of Vladimir Putin, the former K.G.B. officer, has been festering ever since the collapse of the former Soviet empire. Buoyed by the sweeping success of Crimea where hardly a shot was fired, the messianic Putin made the tragic mistake of invading Ukraine shocking the world by its utter brutality but encountering a fierce opposition. Putin, 67, has run Russia, as president and prime minister, for 21 years, a feat surpassed only by Joseph Stalin. He is surrounded by highly corrupt political cronies who have used their enormous wealth and privilege to enjoy high-end European perks with massive real-estate investments. On the home front, Putin has repressed free speech with utter brutality. To quell any form of opposition the ex-KGB spy has amassed a terrifying array of assassination tools. Unfortunately, Putin has grossly mismanaged the economy which is in terrible shape suffering from chronic capital light. One eye-popping investment of $390bn was a major failure. 

Trapped and cornered, Putin spun a nuclear nightmare threatening the nuclear option which would devastate Europe and much of the world. Ukraine is also vulnerable to a nuclear meltdown from one or more of its four nuclear reactors which delivers 55% of its energy. Let us hope the incredible courageous people of Ukraine to defend their country will not be in vain.


ON MENTAL ILLNESS: Mental Exhaustion and Rest

Jack Bragen
Sunday March 06, 2022 - 07:15:00 PM

The brains and minds of people are limited, and following sustained exertion, they need recovery time and rest. If you overextend the mind, in any way, shape or form, it can sometimes cause damage from which it is hard to recover. This is a type of damage that many people, including mental health professionals, would have a hard time understanding and/or measuring.

When I push too far beyond what I know to be my natural limits, I seem to incur damage to the operating systems that make my personality work. I was in such a situation in 2018, and it affected how I behaved; it also made me far less tolerant of any kind of demanding situation. The reversal to such damage took me a long time to do, despite my knowing some types of self-training that I utilized, that eventually fixed it.

So many people treat their minds as though machines that should always work for anything. This may be okay for some, but it doesn't work for me. When I am not at a hundred percent, I might refuse to do things that other people expect me to do. I will also postpone some tasks until such time as I am ready to do them.

People have not been pleased when I've refused to do as they expect. Often, I will refuse a task or series of tasks because I know my limitations and I know that based on those limitations, trying to do the thing(s) will be beyond what I can reasonably do. I don't ascribe to "no pain, no gain." Pain is an excellent signal provided by the body, giving us information that we must back off from whatever it is we're trying to do. 

People sustain damage when they are growing up. Those who had messed up childhoods and teen years, once we reach adulthood, may have to do a lot of work on ourselves to get to a place of clarity and of being well. 

When you get tired, you deserve rest. If you don't get rest, it is bad for you. The human mind and body were designed to let you know when you need such rest. If you try to override those messages, it doesn't mean you've reached new heights in stamina. 

(If you are subject to any kind of mental illness, you need to avoid energy drinks, such as "5-Hour Energy." I've drank Red Bull without a problem, but I'm tolerant of caffeine, and maybe Red Bull isn't the strongest of the lot.) 

This is another reason that I could not do full-time work. Everyone has their own levels of what they can do and what they can't. If something isn't working for you, you should find a way to stop doing that. 

Mental illnesses can be worsened through overexertion of the brain. A severe manic or depressive episode can overextend the brain. This is where the illness is creating damage to the parts of the brain that were working for you. That's why it matters a lot that you keep symptoms in check. In the case of psychosis, a fully blown episode of nonmedicated psychosis, in a week's time, according to one psychiatrist, can create enough damage that it can take ten years to get back to square one. Another psychiatrist said that it takes three days to recover from stress--normal levels of stress. 

The time it takes to mentally recover from a relapse of psychosis--that's why I'm in my fifties and haven't made it very far in my "writing career." If I compare myself to the really successful writers, very few of them suffered from schizophrenia of the type I have. 

Being medicated seems to impact the capacity to endure exertion. Before I was medicated, I could do a lot more without undue strain. But it is hard to know for certain because this is also before I got ill with schizophrenia. The condition seems to sensitize me to stress. I get stressed out from driving in the Bay Area, and I don't drive very much. My insurance agent recently told me the low mileage per year will lower my auto insurance bill soon. 

Self-care includes necessarily getting the rest we need. Sometimes rest means playing--doing something fun. And sometimes it means plopping one's behind on the sofa and taking a nap. Doing something we perceive as hard, really is hard because that's the only way it can be defined. If you are doing something hard, you probably need rest from it at some point. Yet this could have exceptions. I have a picture in my mind that maybe a genius physicist or mathematician could get rest through solving a puzzle like Rubik's Cube. But that's just conjecture. I don't know very many genius-mathematicians or physicists so I couldn't tell you. 

Yet I do know we're all of us made of soft stuff, stuff that can be injured through overwork or through hard environments. We differ in how much we can handle and in how much rest we need, but all of us can only handle so much, and all of us need to take it easy some of the time. 

 

Jack Bragen currently publishes four books on lulu.com, and they can be viewed by clicking here.


SMITHEREENS: Reflections on Bits & Pieces (1500)

Gar Smith
Sunday March 06, 2022 - 07:05:00 PM

Running a Marathon — by Chance

There are just too many things to worry about these days. Climate change is worse than we thought. The Bay Area's overdue earthquake is still overdue. Ukrainian cities and civilians are being bombarded. Russia and Washington are making references to the "nuclear option." The Golden State Warriors squandered a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter....

I needed a distraction, so I took a break by running in the Berkeley Half-Marathon.

Actually, I couldn't avoid it. Part of the Marathon's course overlaps with my much-shorter Sunday jog—from the Monterey Market up to the Berkeley Rose Garden and back.

If anyone were to ask, I could honestly boast that I "easily passed hundreds of other runners."

If anyone were to cast a doubtful look, I would have to confess: while the half-marathoners were all running west, I was heading east, uphill to the Marin Circle Fountain. Once there, I reversed direction and joined the flood of marathoners for the downhill trot back to Hopkins Street.

It was a kick, running past the residents gathered along the curb, banging bells, clapping hands, and shouting words of encouragement: "Looking good!" "Way to go!" "You're gonna make it!" "Suck it up, slowpoke!"

I figure I only ran a half-of-a-half-of-a-half-of-a-Half Marathon but my legs are still sore. 

Is Calling for a Coup a Big Whoop-de-doo? 

Last week's column noted the appearance of a new message being promoted by TrumpleThinSkin and his supporters. Alongside banners reading "SAVE AMERICA," there were other professionally printed placards that bore the chilling threat: "TRUMP 24: OR BEFORE." 

Here's a question for legal scholars: Does this display constitute a crime under 18 US Code, Chapter 115, Article 2385, which reads:
"Whoever, with intent to cause the overthrow or destruction of any such government, prints, publishes, edits, issues, circulates, sells, distributes, or publicly displays any written or printed matter advocating, advising, or teaching the duty, necessity, desirability, or propriety of overthrowing or destroying any government in the United States by force or violence…. Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both." 

I vote for "both." 

Social Insecurity 

The Progressive Turnout Project (PTP) recently emailed a petition calling on Congress to increase monthly Social Security payments. According to the PTP, the Cost of Living adjustment for 2022 increased SS payments by 5.9 percent. Unfortunately, the Consumer Price Index increased by 7.5 percent, which wiped out the SS "increase." 

As the PTP noted, over the past 21 years, housing costs have soared 118 percent while healthcare costs have skyrocketed 145 percent. Over the same 21 years, Social Security checks have only increased 55 percent, which translates to a major loss of purchasing power. 

Senator Elizabeth Warren is pushing a bill to increase SS payments to seniors by another $200 per month. Naturally, Mitch McConnell is working to block it. 

Finally, The Tot Trap Gets Re-tagged 

Several months ago, this column raised concerns about the removal of a warning sign that had been affixed to a new climbing structure at the King Park playground on Hopkins. The sign posted an age-limit for climbers (5-to-12 years), warned kids not to wear necklaces or scarves for fear of strangulation, cautioned that sunny days could leave the tower's tiers hot enough to cause burns, and stipulated that children should be under adult supervision. 

The cautionary note was peeled off by parties unknown. Berkeley's Parks Department was alerted and promised to respond. 

During a visit to the park a few weeks ago, the warning sign was still missing and a group of three four-year-olds and a boy of six were seen swinging and swaying in the middle of the tower. (These structures, manufactured by Berliner Seilfabrik, are officially called "DNA Towers" because of their signature double-helix shape.) 

There were no adults to be seen as the kids scrambled into the third level of the Tot Tower where a protective net was wrapped around the outer supports to prevent children from toppling through the tower's bars and tumbling to the ground. The designers apparently didn't road-test the design sufficiently to assure maximum safety. I watched aghast as the oldest climber swung outside the protective net and began struggling to reach the top level—by clinging to the outside of the no-longer-protective green web. 

Finally, some good news. Last week, a new sign appeared affixed to the tower. As before, it restricted climbers to children from 5-12 playing under "adult supervision." 

Now, the bad news. The new sticker is less than half the size of the original warning and the font is much smaller, making it harder to read. In addition to being too small to draw much attention, the warning sign was placed five feet off the ground, so it cannot be seen—much less read—by children attracted by the bright green-and-yellow "climbing castle." 

The new label warns that children falling from the tower face the possibility of injury or death but then warns climbers not to wear helmets for fear the chin-straps could get caught in the architecture and cause asphyxiation. 

Finally, this update ends with more bad news: someone has already tried to peel back and remove the new warning. 

Give a Bit, You Selfish Bums! 

If you have email, you're familiar with political fund-raising pitches disguised as "urgent surveys." They typically begin by asking a half-dozen leading questions bursting with built-in partisan bias and they always end with an "ask" for a donation. 

In what may be a case of "big-ask burn-out," a recent fundraising survey from action.chuckschumer.com ended with five response bars, each one asking for a larger cash donation. But the final bar reeked a bit of testy resignation: It offered a single, dismissive response: "No. Protecting the Senate Majority is no big deal." 

Spam and Phish with a Continental Dessert 

I got a piece of spam-mail addressed to "Dear Customer" that suggested: "please reset your account immediately." The "Service Team" behind the faux alert pretended to be from "Amazon. All rights reserved." There were a couple of tell-tale tip-offs that the urgent request was not legit. First, the sender was an entity with an awkward url, ctxj@nezzart.com. And then there was the improbable mailing address: 35 Rue Saint Sufran, 13006, Marseille 06, El Salvador. 

The address was real (sort of). There is a five-star restaurant named Le Kikar at this location, but it's in France, not El Salvador. 

The Comforting Lingo of War 

In response to Russia's (long-awaited and strategically provoked) invasion of Ukraine, the Pentagon has offered to supply "Lethal Aid" to its NATO partners in Europe. 

Lethal aid? That's a verbal discontinuity, a nonsensical non sequitur, a contradiction in terms. Just another sign that there's too much Toxic Masculinity being spilled about the planet these dire days. Maybe it's time to apply a bit of Therapeutic Femininity. 

Up-Armored Language 

The Climate activist group 350.org recently reposted an ominous news report that was titled: "An Extraordinary Iceberg Is Gone…." Followed by the comment: "Are you sick of headlines like these?" 

Well, yup. Any reminder of a crumbling Antarctic Doomsday Glacier whose collapse could bury most coastal cities under several feet of saltwater is daunting news. But it was another headline that set my teeth on edge—the one that appeared in the subject line of 350.org's email. It referenced "Our best weapon in the fight against climate change." 

I'm weary and wary of progressive activists—including antiwar stalwarts—who continue to employ militarized language. As long as we perpetuate the idea that problems can be solved with "fighting" and "weapons" we're going to keep "losing ground in the campaign to win the struggle to gain hard-won security." 

Militarized Minds; Weaponized Words 

Thanks to a network of corporate-controlled media, Americans are constantly awash in a flood of gushing grammar-bombs, a literal war of words that target and infiltrate our language en route to conquering our minds. 

Even long-established environmental champions are not immune. The Natural Resources Defense Committee recently sent out a four-page fund-raising letter that underscores the problem. 

The letter begins by referring to the NRDC as "A Force for Nature" that unleashes "legal firepower" in support of "campaigns that will drive … winning bold climate action" by "defending" wildlife "in our fight to avert climate catastrophe." The letter invites readers "to strike back against the fossil fuel lobby" as "we wage a fierce campaign to counter Big Oil" while "fighting on a number of other urgent fronts." 

"We're battling to save bees," the NRDC explains, by providing "frontline communities" with "tools they need to fight environmental injustice" on each of "these major fronts." In a "do-or-die moment for the Earth's future," the NRDC vows to "wage an urgent fight for even bolder climate action" by "mobilizing a grassroots army." 

Meanwhile, the NRDC "is on the frontlines of the battle to stop the onslaught of 'neonic' pesticides" that harm insects and "fighting alongside local residents" as they employ "hard-hitting legal action" in their "battle for equal access to safe, lead-free drinking water." 

In response to the previous administration's "all-out assault on the Endangered Species Act," the "NRDC and out allies scored a big win" when Joe Biden rolled back Trump's anti-eco policies. 

"But the fight goes on," the NRDC goes on. "We're also battling in court to reverse" laws that would target endangered grey wolves by "mobilizing… support" to protect the solves from "being targeted with vicious hunts." 

The NRDC also cites its support for Indigenous communities "battling to save the natural treasures that sustain them" while "waging a fierce campaign" to keep a Texas oil company from "ripping apart" Florida's Big Cypress National Preserve. 

The NRDC "fights both in and out of court" to "advance the fight for environmental justice." (Yes, they used "fights" and "fight" in the same sentence.) And "the only way we can wage—and win—so many urgent campaigns on so many fronts" and "move swiftly to defend our environment" is by raising a Natural Resources defense budget of donations to assure "we keep fighting on your behalf" in the relentless struggle "to wrest control of our future away from the fossil fuel giants." Bottom line: Cash-flow is "essential as we fight to heal our planet." 

VETO NATO 

 

We Say NATO's Got to Go! By Ben Grosscup

 

 

Zoom Call Alert: Russia's Ukraine War and the Imperative for Peace 

Date: Sunday, March 6, 11am Pacific. Register Here. 

The organizers write: "In addition to our deep concern for the victims of this unjust war, we think there is an important opening for greater cooperation between peace forces in Europe (East and West) and North America. What can we do to end this war and prevent the next one? Join us on the Global Day of Action for Peace in Ukraine. Speakers will include:
Sevim Dağdelen has been a member of the Bundestag in Germany since 2017. A member of the Die Linke (Left) Party, she is a member of the German Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Daniel Ellsberg is a former US military analyst who caused a national uproar in 1971 when he provided the New York Times with the Pentagon Papers, a 7,000-page trove that exposed the government's deceptions during the Vietnam War. His latest book is “The Doomsday Machine: Confessions of a Nuclear War Planner.”
Bill Fletcher Jr. is former president of TransAfrica Forum and a Senior Scholar with the Institute for Policy Studies. He is the author of several books, a syndicated columnist, and a regular media commentator on television, radio and the Web.
Nadezhda Azhgihina is a Russian journalist, director of PEN Moscow, board member of Article 19, member of Russian Chamber for Media Complaints, co-founder of Association of Women Journalists (Russia). She lives in Moscow.
You can find the latest news and actions on the Ukraine crisis at NoWarInUkraine.org.
Nonviolent demonstrations are being organized all over the world on March 6th at PeaceInUkraine.org.
Watch an amazing and informative webinar from Monday night. 

Watch a 30-minute video exploring the role of regional oil resources in the Russia/Ukraine conflict
Send an urgent email to Congress and the White House.
Sign up for a March 8th webinar on the damage created by military spending.


An Open Letter Re: Shattuck Cinemas / Proposed development at 2065 Kittredge Street, Berkeley

Charlene Woodcock
Monday February 28, 2022 - 09:53:00 PM

Bill Schrader
The Austin Group
164 Gale Road
Alamo,
CA 94507

Dear Mr. Schrader,
When I first learned of this proposal I was concerned about its effect on the Shattuck Cinemas, but then I heard that you had expressed the intent to keep the theaters intact. However, when I examined the sketch on the City of Berkeley Planning Department poster on the side of the building, I could find no indication of the presence of the theaters. This could simply be due to the fact that the entrance to the Shattuck Cinemas is on Shattuck Avenue. However, I write for confirmation that you appreciate the cultural and economic importance of the 10-screen Shattuck Cinemas and have no intention of harming them. 

I write as one of the many thousands of Berkeley and East Bay residents who value the Shattuck Cinemas very highly. As you doubtless know, we demonstrated our opposition over several years when a previous private developer, Joseph Penner, proposed to demolish the Cinemas for his high rise project. More than four thousand film attendees signed our petition to the city to protect this great film venue from demolition. The developer responded by proposing to include new theaters in his project, but the new theaters would have been fewer, would have been mostly underground, and would not duplicate the hand-painted murals and Egyptian and Moorish Revival decor inspired by the movie palaces of the 1920s. 

These theaters are a great treasure both for the general public and for anyone who loves film as an art form. They draw people to downtown Berkeley from all over the East Bay, so they are an economic driver of our downtown as well. Before the pandemic, they were drawing 275,000 to 300,000 movie viewers a year to downtown Berkeley, and those numbers are building again as we begin to return to normalcy. 

I look forward to learning more about your plans. 

Sincerely, Charlene M. Woodcock 

 

cc: Berkeley Mayor and City Council, Planning Commission, The Daily Planet


Arts & Events

The Berkeley Activist's Calendar, March 13-20

Kelly Hammargren, Sustainable Berkeley Coalition
Sunday March 13, 2022 - 01:37:00 PM

Worth Noting:

EBMUD an early contributor to Wastewater Epidemiology in measuring SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Wastewater is giving a public presentation “Searching for the Sewage Signal” Wednesday at 6 pm. If this peaks your curiosity check out SARS-CoV-2 RNA Levels in Wastewater charts and maps from the CD. https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#wastewater-surveillance



Housing is the subject of the 3x3 meeting Monday at 5 pm, the special City Council meeting at 6 pm Tuesday and the Rent Board on Wednesday at 5:15 pm. The Tuesday special council meeting at 6 pm with the singular item of the Housing Element and Residential Objective Standards should capture your attention as this is the developing plan for adding 8934 housing units to Berkeley.



The last planned meeting of the Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) is Wednesday at 6 pm and covers the final map Amber 2 and the final report. Approval by the city council in April is merely a formality as the IRC has the final word/decision on the District map.



The last meeting on the Hopkins Corridor redesign is Monday at 6 pm. The last section is McGee to Gilman and includes the Monterey Market.



You will need to check after Monday for the agenda of the Transportation Commission and if the Design Review Committee and Human Welfare & Community Action Commissions will meet on their regular schedule.



The City Council March 22 regular meeting is available for review and comment. The ALPR and Surveillance report it is item 40 at the end of the agenda. Per Agenda Committee discussion the report will be rescheduled, but we shall see. Council Spring Recess is March 23 through April 11, 2022.



You have until Friday, March 18 to complete the City’s Parking survey:

Residents - https://bit.ly/ss-resident
Merchants - https://bit.ly/ss-merchant
Employee of a local business - https://bit.ly/berk-employee
Website for the project - https://smartspace.goberkeley.info.



Sunday, March 13, 2022 – DAYLIGHT SAVINGS – Spring Forward



Monday, March 14, 2022 

3x3 Committee Arreguin, Harrison, Kesarwani and Berkeley Housing Authority (BHA) at 5 pm 

Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88901416821?pwd=Y0ZmTFZyZ3Q2VmlOSnhtZkFHeitjUT09 

Teleconference: 1-600-900-9128 Meeting ID:889 0141 6821 Passcode: 97977 

Agenda: 2. BHA Housing Choice Voucher, 4. Project-based Section 8 Program, 5. Homeless Programs, 6. HTF Loan Forgiveness, 7. Affordable Housing Berkeley, Inc, 8. BART Projects, 9. Plans for 2022, 10. Revenue Measure. 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/Home/3x3_Committee_Homepage.aspx 

 

Hopkins Corridor Traffic and Placemaking Study at 6 pm – 7:30 pm 

Link to Register: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7h0dggh0S_S6KGt-BXIGaA 

AGENDA: Hopkins Corridor Plan McGee to Gilman – includes Monterey Market 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Hopkins/ 

 

Tuesday, March 15, 2022 

CITY COUNCIL Special Meeting at 5 pm (same links for both meetings) 

Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87248793756 

Teleconference: 1-699-900-9128 or 1-877-853-5257 Meeting ID: 872 4879 3756 

AGENDA: 1 item – 2nd reading of the Resolution authorizing an amendment to the contract between the City Council and CalPERS 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/City_Council/City_Council__Agenda_Index.aspx 

 

CITY COUNCIL Special Meeting at 6 pm (same links for both meetings) 

Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87248793756 

Teleconference: 1-699-900-9128 or 1-877-853-5257 Meeting ID: 872 4879 3756 

AGENDA: 1 item – Housing Element Update and Residential Objective Standards (packet 60 pages with lots of diagrams and charts of lot coverage and size. 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/City_Council/City_Council__Agenda_Index.aspx 

 

Wednesday, March 16, 2022 

Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board Outreach Committee at 5:15 pm 

Videoconference: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86942068044?pwd=V3ZCQk9tUWoxQUsxUmVMNjdqYlpmdz09 

Teleconference: 1-669-900-6833 Meeting ID: 869 4206 8044 Passcode: 218768 

Agenda: 7. Discussion/possible action Social Media, 8. Discussion/possible action 2022 tenant Survey, 9. Discussion/possible action Fair Chance Ordinance, 10. Staff report on status Eviction Moratorium/Ellis act, 11. Discussion/possible action regarding Emergency Rental Assistance. 

http://www.cityofberkeley.info/rent/ 

 

Commission on Aging at 1pm 

Videoconference: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87859343194 

Teleconference: 1-669-900-9128 Meeting ID: 878 5934 3194 

Agenda: 9. Presentation: Berkeley Rides for Seniors & Disabled FY23 Program Plan, 12. TOPA, 13. How to approach elder/older adult issues and concerns in Berkeley. 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/Commissions/Commissions__Commission_on_Aging_Homepage.aspx 

 

Commission on the Status of Women at 6 pm 

Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83821061701?pwd=MktBTGJneDFqTkpVTExCMWlGRGduQT09 

Teleconference: 1-669-900-9128 Meeting ID: 838 2106 1701 Passcode: 465358 

Agenda: 5. CA Commissions Grant – Women’s Pandemic Recovery Response Grant, 8. Legislative updates. 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/Commissions/Commissions__Commission_on_the_Status_of_Women_Homepage.aspx 

 

Independent Redistricting Commission at 6 pm 

Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82577896995 

Teleconference: 1-699-900-9128 or 1-877-853-5257 Meeting ID: 825 7789 6995 

Agenda: 2. Adoption of the Final Map – Amber Map 2, 3. Approval of the Final Redistricting Report (report 819 pages) 

https://redistricting-commission-berkeley.hub.arcgis.com/ 

 

EBMUD Searching for the Sewage Signal – COVID at 6 pm 

Registration: https://ebmud.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4yWhcD-RTNS2COg4ZLzj_A 

Or https://tinyurl.com/bdhar7en 

Agenda: Searching for the Sewage Signal, How EBMUD Contributed to Wastewater Epidemiology for the Bay Area 

https://www.ebmud.com/customers/pipeline/2021/03/covid-19-clues-wastewater 

 

Human Welfare & Community Action Commission 

The Human Welfare & Community Action Commission normally meets the 3rd Wednesday at 6:30 pm – there is no meeting posted, check after Monday for possible meeting notice. 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/Commissions/Commissions__Human_Welfare_and_Community_Action_Commission_Homepage.aspx 

 

Thursday, March 17, 2022 

Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board at 7 pm 

check after Monday for links and agenda and confirm time 

http://www.cityofberkeley.info/rent/ 

 

Fair Campaign Practices Commission at 6 pm 

Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87224260674 

Teleconference: 1-669-9006833 Meeting ID: 872 2426 0674 

Agenda: 6. Report on Officeholder accounts subcommittee; discussion/possible action, 

http://www.cityofberkeley.info/FCPC/ 

 

Transportation Commission at 7 pm 

check after Monday for links and agenda and confirm time 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/Commissions/Commissions__Transportation_Commission_Homepage.aspx 

 

Design Review Committee 

The Design Review Committee normally meets the 3rd Thursday at 7 pm – there is no meeting posted, check after Monday for possible meeting notice. 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/designreview/ 

 

Friday, March 18, 2022 & Saturday, March 19, 2022 

No City meetings or events found 

 

Sunday, March 20, 2022  

Oakland Marathon - https://oaklandmarathon.com/ 

 

 

MARCH 22, 2022 CITY COUNCIL REGULAR 6 pm MEETING AGENDA 

Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85474741619 

Teleconference: 1-669-900-9128 or 1-877-853-5257 (toll free) Meeting ID: 854 7474 1619 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/City_Council/City_Council__Agenda_Index.aspx 

CONSENT: 1. 2nd reading lease agreement with NFS Unlimited, LLC for Skates-on-the-Bay, 2. Resolution to meet via videoconference, 3. Resolution ratifying COVID emergency, 4. Minutes, 5. Contract $60,000 (ARPA Funds) Amendment to Berkeley Revolving Loan Fund to contract with Working Solutions to provide technical assistance to small businesses participating in Revolving Loan Program (RLP), 6. $12,952,000 Formal bid solicitations, 7. Donate surplus fire truck and equipment to Livermore Pleasanton Department, 8. Contract $325,000/fiscal year with Pinnacle for Occupational Physicals replacing current contract 3/23/2022 – 3/22/2022 with option to extend to total 10 years, 9. Contract $100,000 with Interior Motions for HHCS Public Health Division Furniture 1/1/2022 – 12/30/2022, 10. Amend Contract add $140,800 total $541,715 with Help@Hand Participation Agreement with CA Mental Health Services thru 6/30/2024, 11. Revenue Contract Alameda Co Behavioral Health Care Services, 12. Increase Taxi Scrip Window daily cash redemption limit from $800 to $1000 one day per week, 13. Amend BMC 12.70 to align state and local laws on smoking and cannabis, 14. Add $900,000 to each contract with ELS Architecture and Urban Design, Siegel & Strain and Noll & Tam Architects 6/30/2022 – 3/31/2023, 15. Purchase Order $765,000 Nicholas K Corp dba the Ford Store San Leandro for 15 Ford Interceptor Utility Hybrid Vehicles, 16. Purchase Order $135,000 Nicholas K Corp dba the Ford Store San Leandro for 3 EV Ford Pickup Trucks, 17. Amend contract add $100,000 total $400,000 with Du-All Safety, LLC for Safety Consulting and Training Services thru 12/31/2025, 18. Amend contract add $85,000 total $277,947 with Silao General Engineering for site improvements (parking lot) at 125/127 University, 19. Amend contract add $500,000 total $1,400,000 with Coastland Civil Engineering for on-call civil engineering services for sanitary sewer program and extend 6/30/2023, 20. Amend contract add $500,000 total $1,200,000 with West Yost for on-call civil engineering services for sanitary sewer program and extend 6/30/2023, 21. Amend contract add $2,805,612 total $45,545780 with Waste Management of Alameda County for Landfill Disposal Services thru 12/31/2026, 22. FY 2023 Street Lighting Assessments – initiate proceedings, 23. Commission on Disability – Recommendation appoint new members to fill commission vacancies Districts 3,4,5,6,7 and Mayor, 24. Disaster and Fire Safety Commission – Recommendation to Identify High Risk Safety Areas that are exempt from State Imposed Housing Increases Due to Public safety Considerations 1. Fire Zones with narrow (26 feet or less) winding streets, 2. Locations Alquist-Priolo (Hayward Fault) and 3. Locations within Liquefaction and Landslide Zones,Parks.25. Parks and Waterfront Commission – Letter of support for South Sailing Basin Dredging, 26. Letter of Support to State Senate Budget Chair Skinner and Assembly Budget Chair Ting for Waterfront Infrastructure Improvement Projects, 27. Auditor’s Report Berkeley Police: Improvements Needed to Manage Overtime and Security Work for Outside Entities, 28. Taplin – Support for AB-2053 (Social Housing Act), 29. Taplin – Support for AB-2336 (Speed Safety Pilot Program – cameras to catch speeders), 30. Taplin - Support for AB-2713 (Rent caps –limits annual rent increase to 5% + CPI or 10% whichever is lower), 31. Taplin – Budget referral $300,000 to hire consultant to draft West Berkeley Transportation Plan, 32. Bartlett, co-sponsors Hahn, Taplin, Arreguin – Budget referral $350,000 to fund consultant to design and implement a local reparations plan to address economic injury and intergenerational trauma experienced by Berkeley’s decendents of slavery and ongoing harm caused to all African Americans by systems that uphold the legacy of segregation, 33. Hahn, Arreguin, Robinson – Oppose AB2808 which would ban rank choice voting, 34. Wengraf – Support for AB 1755 (wildfire home hardening, wildfire mitigation improvements), 35. Wengraf co-sponsors Taplin, Barlett – Support AB-1594 Fire Arms Civil Suits, 36. Wengraf, Hahn co-sponsors Bartlett, Arreguin– approving expenditure council office budget funds for 2022 Virtual Holocaust Remembrance Day Program, 37. Robinson co-sponsor Hahn – Budget Referral $3,600,000 Telegraph-Channing Garage elevator repairs, ACTION: 38. Berkeley economic Dashboards Update, 39. Research and Development (R&D) definition, 40. Accept the Surveillance Technology Report for Automatic License Plate Readers, GPS Trackers, Body Worn Camera and the Street Level Imagery Project (expect at the meeting for this to be moved to a future meeting) INFORMATION REPORTS: 41. FY 2022 First Quarter Investment Report ended 9/30/2021. 

 

LAND USE CALENDAR: 

Public Hearings Scheduled – Land Use Appeals 

1643-47 California – new basement level and 2nd story 4/26/2022 

Remanded to ZAB or LPC 

1205 Peralta – Conversion of an existing garage 

Notice of Decision (NOD) and Use Permits with the End of the Appeal Period 

8 Brookside – Construct 2-story addition over 14 ft in average height and 20 feet maximum height, add 5th bedroom in R-1H zoning district 3/30/2022 

1409 California - Construct a 96 sq ft addition over 14 ft in ave ht within a non-conforming rear yard setback 3/24/2022 

1412 Derby – Residential addition of 431 sq ft to an existing 1,250 sq ft single family dwelling 3/24/2022 

1233 Dwight – Create 430 sq ft 2nd story addition and 20 sq ft 1st floor addition to existing single-family dwelling 3/14/2022 

3233 Ellis – Demolish existing single-family dwelling and construct 3 detached single-family dwellings 

760 Hearst – Establish 3,366 sq ft veterinary clinic in an existing tenant space 3/16/2022 

1915 Milvia – Residential addition of 578 sq ft to existing 1-story single family dwelling. Project includes demolition of a portion of the rear home 3/24/2022 

2500 MLK Jr Way – Change of use from retail books to medical office in one commercial space 3/14/2022 

1341-1343 Parker – Addition of 5th bedroom, relocation of exterior stairs to single-family dwelling, project includes demolition of a portion of the structure 3/24/2022 

2421 Piedmont – remove and replace existing 6 foot fence on top of retaining wall total height 9 feet 3/30/2022 

1641 Stuart – Residential addition on 2nd floor of single family dwelling 3/14/2022 

2305 Telegraph – Change of use from retail to food establishment in existing vacant commercial space 3/14/2022 

2315 Telegraph – Change of use from retail food establishment in an existing vacant commercial space, no exterior work 3/14/2022 

1201 The Alameda – Establish new uncovered off-street parking space within required yard 3/14/12022 

3022 Shattuck – Remodel existing duplex, replacement existing deck and stairs, addition at shade structure at rear of house, scope of work includes kitchens and bathrooms, roof at rear of house to be extended, no proposed change to existing footprint or façade facing right of way, 2 electric charging stations, 2 on demand water heaters 3/14/2022 

1499 University – Add mural to South façade 

1695 Ward – Construct 105 sq ft 2nd story addition and roof deck, construct porch in existing non-conforming frontsetback, add off-street parking space to rear yard, on non-conforming for lot coverage and occupied by existing 2-story 2,058 sq ft single family dwelling 3/16/2022 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/planning_and_development/land_use_division/current_zoning_applications_in_appeal_period.aspx 

 

WORKSESSIONS: 

March 15 – Housing Element Update 

April 19 – Fire Department Standards of Coverage Study, BART Station Planning 

June 21 – open 

July 19 - open 

Unscheduled Workshops/Presentations 

Cannabis Health Considerations 

Alameda County LAFCO Presentation 

Civic Arts Grantmaking Process & Capital Grant Program 

Civic Center – Old City Hall and Veterans Memorial Building (Tentative: Action Item) 

Mid-Year Budget Report FY 2022 

 

Kelly Hammargren’s on what happened the preceding week can be found in the Berkeley Daily Planet www.berkeleydailyplanet.com under Activist’s Diary. This meeting list is also posted at https://www.sustainableberkeleycoalition.com/whats-ahead.html on the Sustainable Berkeley Coalition website. 

If you would like to receive the Activist’s Calendar as soon as it is completed send an email to kellyhammargren@gmail.com. If you wish to stop receiving the weekly summary of city meetings please forward the weekly summary you received to kellyhammargren@gmail.com. 

 

 

 


The Berkeley Activist's Calendar

Kelly Hammargren, Sustainable Berkeley Coalition
Sunday March 06, 2022 - 07:19:00 PM

Worth Noting:

A packed week ahead that closes with daylight savings time.

Policing in Berkeley starts Monday with a policing proposal, followed with an ordinance to prohibit discriminatory reporting to law enforcement at the Public Safety Committee at 10:30 am. Monday afternoon at 2:30 pm the Agenda Committee will review the draft agenda for March 22 which contains item 40 undoing protections from no cause search and seizure of persons on parole/probation. Monday afternoon at 4 pm is the Press Conference following Berkeley Police holding the Program Manager of the Berkeley Drop-in Center at gunpoint, handcuffed and on the ground who was at work doing his job completing decorations in observation of Black History month. Monday evening at 7 pm the Personnel Board will review a revised job description/classification for the investigator of police misconduct. Tuesday evening at City Council is the report of the implementation of Fair and Impartial Policing in Berkeley and the Crime and Collision report. Wednesday is the Police Accountability Board at 7 pm. Thursday morning at 9 am the Budget Committee will take up the report from the auditor citing improvements needed in managing police overtime and the absence of contracts with outside entities. Thursday evening is a special council meeting to receive the reports on the Reimagining Policing work at 6 pm. If all three reports are read the total is 754 pages.

BART Parking, Parking enforcement and reconfiguring Hopkins starts Monday morning at 10:30 am the Public Safety Committee will review the recommendation from the Disaster and Fire Safety Commission to enforce existing parking code in high fire zones. The Hopkins Traffic Corridor study and recommendations is Monday evening at 6 pm. The BART meeting on parking at the BART stations is Wednesday at 6 pm. The BART housing developments will be built on the Ashby and North Berkeley BART parking lots.

Toxic Contamination, groundwater and sea level rise (SLR) presentation by Kristina Hill is Tuesday at 3 pm. The impact on groundwater and toxic sites is the piece of SLR that never gets attention. This is important as it changes the assumptions of SLR impacts.

Saturday March 12th the Berkeley Neighborhoods Council will take up Berkeley issues, the agenda isn’t posted yet, but the above makes it look like a full plate. 

 

Sunday, March 6, 2022 – no city meetings or events found 

 

Monday, March 7, 2022 

City Council Public Safety Committee at 10:30 am (members Taplin, Kesawani, Wengraf) 

Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82439596866 

Teleconference: 1-669-900-9128 or 1-877-853-5257 (toll free) Meeting ID: 824 3959 6866 

AGENDA: 2. Taplin co-sponsor Wengraf - Community Policing: Flex Team for Problem-Oriented Policing Under the Scanning, Analysis, Response, and Assessment (SARA) Model and Other Applicable Community Engagement Models, 3. Harrison co-sponsor – Adopt ordinance adding BMC 13.09 Prohibiting Discriminatory Reports to Law Enforcement, 4. Disaster and Fire Safety Commission - Recommends Parking Enforcement of Existing Parking Code in fire Zones 2 & 3. 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/Home/Policy_Committee__Public_Safety.aspx 

 

Agenda and Rules Committee at 2:30 pm 

Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86832943195 

Teleconference: 1-669-900-9128 or 1-877-853-5257 (toll free) Meeting ID: 868 3294 3195 

AGENDA: Public Comment on non-agenda and items 1 – 7. 1. Minutes, 2. Review and Approve 3/22/2022 draft agenda – use link or read full draft agenda after list of city meetings, 3. Berkeley Considers, 4. Adjournment in Memory, 7. Land Use Calendar, Referred Items for Review: 8. COVID, 9. Return to In-person meetings, Unscheduled Items: 10. Discussion Regarding Design and Strengthening of Policy Committees, 11. Supporting Commissions, Guidance on Legislative Proposals. 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/City_Council/Policy_Committee__Agenda___Rules.aspx 

 

Civic Arts Commission Policy committee at 3 pm  

Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87995975058?pwd=NjFxZGZuWEJ1cXpXNXVuUFZHUmgzZz09 

Teleconference: 1-669-900-9128 Meeting ID: 879 9597 5058 

AGENDA: 4. Civic arts Commission Work Plan 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/CivicArtsCommissionHomepage/ 

 

Press Conference at 4 pm 

Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82998271252?pwd=TW5pUFVYNHorLzYwZXlwTUJTeDRWZz09 

Agenda: Press Conference - Regarding Feb 2 incident of racist policing by Berkeley Police, the Program Manager for the Berkeley Drop-in Center was finishing decorating the Berkeley Drop-in Center in celebration of Black History month, when more than four Berkeley Police Officers approached the Program Manager with guns pulled and detained him at gunpoint, handcuffed and on the ground even after staff and community came out saying he this was his place of work and he was doing nothing wrong. 

Katrina Killian, Executive Director, Alameda County Network of Mental Health Clients, 3238 Adeline, Berkeley, 

 

Peace and Justice Commission at 7 pm 

Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85300527394 

Teleconference: 1-669-900-9128 Meeting ID: 853 0052 7394 

AGENDA: Discussion/action 7. Elections, 8. 2022 Work Plan, 9. Climate Change education Bill, 10. Action to Approve letter to BUSD: Integrate climate change into change into California education. 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/ContentDisplay.aspx?id=13054 

 

Personnel Board at 7 pm 

Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88374176663?pwd=c3VyTkFGVURTWENVNmJHZm1CajZ5UT09 

Teleconference: 1-669-900-9128 Meeting ID: 875 8489 2793 Passcode: 152599 

AGENDA: VII. Recommendation to Rename and Revise the Police Review Commission Investigator Classification. 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/Commissions/Commissions__Personnel_Board_Homepage.aspx 

 

Hopkins Corridor Traffic and Placemaking Study at 6 pm 

Videoconference: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_GvsbjX4uSR6BjeCzxTDEpw 

Teleconference: not given as an option 

AGENDA: Hopkins from The Alameda to McGee. 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Hopkins/ 

 

Tuesday, March 8, 2022 

Presentation by Kristina Hill on Groundwater, Sea Level Rise and Toxic Contamination at 3 pm  

Videoconference: register (Register on Zoom Presentation is free) 

Presentation is Sponsored/Organized by Richmond Shoreline Alliance  

https://richmondshorelinealliance.org/ 

 

City Council CLOSED Session at 4 pm 

Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85665732041 

Teleconference: 1-669-900-9128 or 1-877-853-5257 (toll free) Meeting ID: 856 6573 2041 

AGENDA: 1. Conference with Legal Counsel – existing litigation a. Mauck v. City of Berkeley Alameda Superior Court RG20060952, b. Frieson v. City of Berkeley Alameda Superior Court RG20064683 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/City_Council/City_Council__Agenda_Index.aspx 

 

CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING at 6 pm 

Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82967064417 

Teleconference: 1-699-900-9128 or 1-877-853-5257 Meeting ID: 829 6706 4417 

AGENDA: For full agenda use link or go to full agenda following list of city meetings and draft agenda for 3/22/2022 council meeting.  

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/City_Council/City_Council__Agenda_Index.aspx 

 

Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board Budget and Personal Committee Meeting at 5 pm 

Videoconference: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83997610665?pwd=M3E0OUFRd0ZrNXEzUWxlTWxWNUEzUT09 

Teleconference: 1-408-638-0968 Meeting ID: 839 9761 0667 Passcode: 967661 

AGENDA: Discussion and Possible Action: 8. Budget review possible changes to staffing model, 9. Regarding Hiring of Consultants for Racial Equity Work and Personnel Evaluations. 

 

Wednesday, March 9, 2022 

Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board Legislation / IRA / AGA at 5 pm 

Videoconference: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89888378508?pwd=d05CMXJUZFptMFN3NkdoQW05SU92QT09 

Teleconference: 1-408-638-0968 Meeting ID: 898 8837 8508 Passcode: 109179 

AGENDA: 7. Discussion and possible action regarding potential 2022 ballot initiatives to amend Berkeley Rent Ordinance 

 

Commission on Labor at 7 pm 

Videoconference: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/4863098496 

Teleconference: not given try 1-669-900-6833 and Meeting ID: 486 3098 496 

AGENDA: 4. Elections, 5. Fair Work Week Policy, 6. Discussion and Possible action regarding role of commission on Labor to receive disputes and provide technical assistance to the community. 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/Commissions/Commissions__Commission_on_Labor_Homepage.aspx 

 

Homeless Commission at 7 pm 

Videoconference: https://zoom.us/j/96645301465 

Teleconference: 1-669-900-6833 Meeting ID: 966 4530 1465 

AGENDA: 6. Options presentation with two components how Options System works and how the programs are coordinated and second Options presenter directly working with the homeless on the street, 7. Coordination of homeless services in Berkeley, 8. Discussion and possible action on need for a senior shelter and special needs, 9. Discussion and possible action of screening and intake procedures for persons with disabilities entering into homeless programs. 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/Commissions/Commissions__Homeless_Commission_Homepage.aspx 

 

Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Commission at 7 pm 

Videoconference: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83911723812 

Teleconference: 1-669-900-6833 Meeting ID: 839 1172 3812 

AGENDA: 9. Update Outside Funding, Grants, Donations for PRW projects, 10. Update Trees Make Life Better Program, 11. Spring and Summer 2022 special events calendar, 12. Proposed FY 2023-2024 PRW capital projects, 13. Upcoming Marina Fund Budget, 14. Update/Discussion Commission Referrals to City Council, TOT, Refuse Policy, Adopt-a-Spot, South Sailing Basin Dredging and State Funding Request for Marina. 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/Commissions/Parks,_Recreation,_and_Waterfront_Commission.aspx 

 

Police Accountability Board at 7 pm 

Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82237902987 

Teleconference: 1-669-900-6833 Meeting ID: 822 3790 2987 

AGENDA: 3. Public comment on non-agenda and agenda items, 9. A. Review Policy 319 Hate Crimes, 10. a. Consider requests from Fair & Impartial Policing Implementation, b. Review Police Equipment & Community Safety Ordinance Impact Statements, c. Consider Request from Mental Health Commission to collaborate on using local crisis stabilization as an alternative to sending individuals with mental health concerns to Santa Rita or John George, d. BPD response to anti-Semitic hate flyers in Berkeley, e. Discuss continuation of meetings held via teleconference and videoconference, CLOSED SESSION. 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/ContentDisplay.aspx?id=162752 

 

BART Ashby and North Berkeley Stations Advisory Committee and Community Meeting at 6 pm 

Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUrcuivqjgpH93uk0pgEuZoey9RbWR15CYa 

Teleconference: Meeting ID: 

AGENDA: BART rider parking spaces 

https://www.bart.gov/about/planning/station-access/berkeley-elcerrito-corridor-plan/outreach 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/BARTplanning/ 

 

Thursday, March 10, 2022 

City Council Budget & Finance Committee at 9 am 

Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89216051955 

Teleconference: 1-669-900-9128 or 1-877-853-5257 (toll free) Meeting ID:892 1605 1955 

AGENDA: 2. Legislative update Governor’s FY 22-23 Proposed Budget, 3. Auditor - Berkeley Police: Improvements Needed to Manage Overtime and Security Work for Outside Entities (54 pages), 4. Measure P Overview and Fund Forecast, 5. Five-Year Capital Improvement Program and Proposed Projects 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/Home/Policy_Committee__Budget___Finance.aspx 

 

City Council 6 pm – Special Meeting  

Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81553706914 

Teleconference: 1-669-900-9128 or 1-877-853-5257 (toll free) Meeting ID: 815 5370 6914 

AGENDA: 1. Consideration of the Reimagining Public safety Task force’s Response to the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (NICJR)recommendations, (Report 150 pages) 2. Presentation and Discussion of Reports Submitted by Reimagining Public Safety Task Force and National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform, Part 1 Specialized Care Unit – Crisis Response Models Report (212 pages). Part 2. NICJR Report (292 pages) 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/City_Council/2022/03_Mar/City_Council__03-10-2022_Special_Meeting_Agenda.aspx 

 

Friday, March 11, 2022 

Reduced Service Day 

 

Saturday, March 12, 2022 

Berkeley Neighborhoods Council at 10 am 

Videoconference: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81913698863?pwd=NFJjWlh2aDhtSjh1eG4yQUFkMzNmQT09 

Teleconference: 1-253-215-8782 Meeting ID: 819 1369 8863 Passcode: 377919 

AGENDA: not posted, check later in the week 

https://berkeleyneighborhoodscouncil.com/ 

 

Sunday, March 13, 2022 – DAYLIGHT SAVINGS – Spring Forward 

 

March 7, AGENDA AND RULES COMMITTEE at 2:30 pm 

Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86832943195 

Teleconference: 1-669-900-9128 or 1-877-853-5257 (toll free) Meeting ID: 868 3294 3195 

DRAFT AGENDA for MARCH 22, 2022 City Council Regular 6 pm Meeting 

CONSENT: 1. Resolution to meet via videoconference, 2. Resolution ratifying COVID emergency, 3. Minutes, 4. Contract $60,000 (ARPA Funds) Amendment to Berkeley Revolving Loan Fund to contract with Working Solutions to provide technical assistance to small businesses participating in Revolving Loan Program (RLP), 5. $12,952,000 Formal bid solicitations, 6. Donate surplus fire truck and equipment to Livermore Pleasanton Department, 7. Contract $325,000/fiscal year with Pinnacle for Occupational Physicals replacing current contract 3/23/2022 – 3/22/2022 with option to extend to total 10 years, 8. Contract $100,000 with Interior Motions for HHCS Public Health Division Furniture 1/1/2022 – 12/30/2022, 9. Amend Contract add $140,800 total $541,715 with Help@Hand Participation Agreement with CA Mental Health Services thru 6/30/2024, 10. Revenue Contract Alameda Co Behavioral Health Care Services, 11. Increase Taxi Scrip Window daily cash redemption limit from $800 to $1000 one day per week, 12. Amend BMC 12.70 to align state and local laws on smoking and cannabis, 13. Add $900,000 to each contract with ELS Architecture and Urban Design, Siegel & Strain and Noll & Tam Architects 6/30/2022 – 3/31/2023, 14. Purchase Order $765,000 Nicholas K Corp dba the Ford Store San Leandro for 15 Ford Interceptor Utility Hybrid Vehicles, 15. Purchase Order $135,000 Nicholas K Corp dba the Ford Store San Leandro for3 EV Ford Pickup Trucks, 16. Amend contract add $100,000 total $400,000 with Du-All Safety, LLC for Safety Consulting and Training Services thru 12/31/2025, 17. Amend contract add $85,000 total $277,947 with Silao General Engineering for site improvements (parking lot) at 125/127 University, 18. Amend contract add $500,000 total $1,400,000 with Coastland Civil Engineering for on-call civil engineering services for sanitary sewer program and extend 6/30/2023, 19. Amend contract add $500,000 total $1,200,000 with West Yost for on-call civil engineering services for sanitary sewer program and extend 6/30/2023, 20. Amend contract add $2,805,612 total $45,545780 with Waste Management of Alameda County for Landfill Disposal Services thru 12/31/2026, 21. FY 2023 Street Lighting Assessments – initiate proceedings, 22. Commission on Disability – Recommendation appoint new members to fill commission vacancies Districts 3,4,5,6,7 and Mayor, 23. Parks and Waterfront Commission – Letter of support for South Sailing Basin Dredging, 24. Letter of Support to State Senate Budget Chair Skinner and Assembly Budget Chair Ting for Waterfront Infrastructure Improvement Projects, 25 Auditor’s Report Berkeley Police: Improvements Needed to Manage Overtime and Security Work for Outside Entities, 26. Taplin – Support for AB-2053 (Social Housing Act), 27. Taplin – Support for AB-2336 (Speed Safety Pilot Program – cameras to catch speeders), 28. Taplin - Support for AB-2713 (Rent caps –limits annual rent increase to 5% + CPI or 10% whichever is lower), 29. Taplin – Budget referral $300,000 to hire consultant to draft West Berkeley Transportation Plan, 30. Bartlett, co-sponsors Hahn, Taplin, Arreguin – Budget referral $350,000 to fund consultant to design and implement a local reparations plan to address economic injury and intergenerational trauma experienced by Berkeley’s decendents of slavery and ongoing harm caused to all African Americans by systems that uphold the legacy of segregation, 31. Wengraf – Support for AB 1755 (wildfire home hardening, wildfire mitigation improvements), 32. Wengraf co-sponsors Taplin, Barlett – Support AB-1594 Fire Arms Civil Suits, 33. Wengraf,Hahn – approving expenditure council office budget funds for 2022 Virtual Holocaust Remembrance Day Program, 34. Robinson co-sponsor Hahn – Budget Referral $3,600,000 Telegraph-Channing Garage elevator repairs, ACTION: 35. Research and Development (R&D) definition, 36. Accept the Surveillance Technology Report for Automatic License Plate Readers, GPS Trackers, Body Worn Camera and the Street Level Imagery Project, 37. Disaster and Fire Safety Commission – Recommendation to Identify High Risk Safety Areas that are exempt from State Imposed Housing Increases Due to Public safety Considerations 1. Fire Zones with narrow (26 feet or less) winding streets, 2. Locations Alquist-Priolo (Hayward Fault) and 3. Locations within Liquefaction and Landslide Zones, 38. Harrison – Budget referral to Consider General Fund strategies and related fiscal policies for funding capital improvements in particular strret, sidewalk, micromobility and transit infrastructure, 39. Referral to FITES Committee to consider strategies and make recommendations to ensure potential infrastructure bond is consistent with climate action goals and other environmental policies, 40. Droste, Taplin - Revisions to Section 311.6 Warrantless Searches of Individuals on Supervised release searches of individuals on supervised release search conditions of the Berkeley Police Department ( BPD) Law Enforcement Service Manual - undoes protections to individuals on parole/probation allowing BPD to conduct detentions and warrantless searches on persons on parole/probation, INFORMATION REPORTS: 41. Berkeley Economic Dashboards Update, 42. FY 2022 First Quarter Investment Report ended 9/30/2021. 

 

March 8, CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING at 6 pm 

Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82967064417 

Teleconference: 1-699-900-9128 or 1-877-853-5257 Meeting ID: 829 6706 4417 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/City_Council/City_Council__Agenda_Index.aspx 

AGENDA CONSENT: 1. 2nd reading Supplementary Retirement and Income Plan II Berkeley Fire Fighters Assoc Local 1227 IAFF. 2. 2nd reading Amendment to contract between City and CalPers to effectuate cost sharing agreement between City and PEPRA, 3. Continuation Videoconference and Teleconference, 4. $7,470,316 Formal bid solicitations, 5. Contract add $50,000 total $100,000 end 6/30/2023 with Anjanette Scott LLC Housing Consultant, 6. Contract add $60,000 total $245,000 with Resource Development Associates (RDA) to add grant writing services for the Specialized Care Unit (SCU – crisis intervention mentally ill alternative to policing) 1/1/2021 – 6/30/2023, 7. Contract add $10,000 total $569,300 with Rolling Orange, Inc for Website redesign 3/1/2019 – 6/30/2024, 8. Contract $1,010,000 (includes 10% contingency $20,551) with Western Water Features, Inc. for King Pool Plaster and Tile and West Campus Pool Plaster, Tile, Filter, 9. Contract add $42,00 total $188,400 (includes $4,200 contingency) with Lind Marine for Removal of Derelict and Abandoned Vessels at the Berkeley Marina, 10. 10-year lease with two 5-year extensions with NFS Unlimited, LLC for Skates-on-the-Bay, 11. Updates to Measure T1 Phase 1 Project List, 12. Donation $3,400 memorial bench at Berkeley Marina in memory of Roger Garfinkle, 13. Ratification of Police accountability Board’s Standing Rules, 14. Arreguin Co-sponsors Taplin, Bartlett, Robinson – Support SB 922 (Weiner) permanently exempt transportation related projects from CEQA (pedestrian, bicycle, new bus rapid transit, light rail, EV charging stations, shore-side charging stations for ferries), 15. Arreguin, co-sponsor Harrison – Oppose CA 2/3 Legislative Vote and Voter Approval for Fee and Charge increases Initiative, 16. Kesarwani, Taplin, co-sponsorss Robinson, Wengraf - Referral to Implement State Law AB 43 for Reduced Speed Limits on High Injury Commercial Corridors, 17. Harrison, co-sponsors Arreguin, Taplin, Wengraf – Resolution expenditure office budgets supporting Status of Women Commission to cover membership in Association of CA Commissions for Women, 18. Harrison – Resolution to reduce Park fees for non-profits and support SF Mime Troupe, 19. Hahn, Bartlett, co-sponsor Harrison - Budget Referral $300,000 Grant Writing services, 20. Robinson – Support for AB 1713 Idaho Stop – allowing adult bicyclists to proceed through stop signs without stop after yielding right-of-way to immediate hazards, ACTION: 21. Update on Implementation of Fair and Impartial Policing Task Force Recommendations from BPD, 22. 2021 Year End Crime and Collision Data, 23. CM – Exception to 180-Day waiting period to hire a CalPERS Retired Annuitant. 

 

 

LAND USE CALENDAR: 

Public Hearings Scheduled – Land Use Appeals 

1643-47 California – new basement level and 2nd story 4/26/2022 

Remanded to ZAB or LPC 

1205 Peralta – Conversion of an existing garage 

Notice of Decision (NOD) and Use Permits with the End of the Appeal Period 

1409 California - Construct a 96 sq ft addition over 14 ft in ave ht within a non-conforming rear yard setback 3/24/2022 

1412 Derby – Residential addition of 431 sq ft to an existing 1,250 sq ft single family dwelling 3/24/2022 

1233 Dwight – Create 430 sq ft 2nd story addition and 20 sq ft 1st floor addition to existing single-family dwelling 3/14/2022 

3233 Ellis – Demolish existing single-family dwelling and construct 3 detached single-family dwellings 

760 Hearst – Establish 3,366 sq ft veterinary clinic in an existing tenant space 3/16/2022 

1915 Milvia – Residential addition of 578 sq ft to existing 1-story single family dwelling. Project includes demolition of a portion of the rear home 3/24/2022 

2500 MLK Jr Way – Change of use from retail books to medical office in one commercial space 3/14/2022 

1341-1343 Parker – Addition of 5th bedroom, relocation of exterior stairs to single-family dwelling, project includes demolition of a portion of the structure 3/24/2022 

1641 Stuart – Residential addition on 2nd floor of single family dwelling 3/14/2022 

2305 Telegraph – Change of use from retail to food establishment in existing vacant commercial space 3/14/2022 

2315 Telegraph – Change of use from retail food establishment in an existing vacant commercial space, no exterior work 3/14/2022 

1201 The Alameda – Establish new uncovered off-street parking space within required yard 3/14/12022 

3022 Shattuck – Remodel existing duplex, replacement existing deck and stairs, addition at shade structure at rear of house, scope of work includes kitchens and bathrooms, roof at rear of house to be extended, no proposed change to existing footprint or façade facing right of way, 2 electric charging stations, 2 on demand water heaters 3/14/2022 

1499 University – Add mural to South façade 

1695 Ward – Construct 105 sq ft 2nd story addition and roof deck, construct porch in existing non-conforming frontsetback, add off-street parking space to rear yard, on non-conforming for lot coverage and occupied by existing 2-story 2,058 sq ft single family dwelling 3/16/2022 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/planning_and_development/land_use_division/current_zoning_applications_in_appeal_period.aspx 

 

WORKSESSIONS: 

March 10 – Reimagining Public Safety 

March 15 – Housing Element Update 

April 19 – Fire Department Standards of Coverage Study, BART Station Planning 

June 21 – open 

July 19 - open 

Unscheduled Workshops/Presentations 

Cannabis Health Considerations 

Alameda County LAFCO Presentation 

Civic Arts Grantmaking Process & Capital Grant Program 

Civic Center – Old City Hall and Veterans Memorial Building (Tentative: Action Item) 

Mid-Year Budget Report FY 2022 

 

Kelly Hammargren’s on what happened the preceding week can be found in the Berkeley Daily Planet www.berkeleydailyplanet.com under Activist’s Diary. This meeting list is also posted at https://www.sustainableberkeleycoalition.com/whats-ahead.html on the Sustainable Berkeley Coalition website. 

If you would like to receive the Activist’s Calendar as soon as it is completed send an email to kellyhammargren@gmail.com. If you wish to stop receiving the weekly summary of city meetings please forward the weekly summary you received to kellyhammargren@gmail.com. 

 

 

 


Jordi Savall & Le Concert des Nations Offer Music from the film TOUS LES MATINS DU MONDE

Reviewed by James Roy MacBean
Sunday March 06, 2022 - 07:10:00 PM

Perennial favorite Jordi Savall returned to Berkeley on Friday evening, March 4, 2022, under the auspices once again of Cal Performances. This time, Jordi Savall was joined by the ensemble he and his late wife, Montserrat Figueras, founded many years ago, Le Concert des Nations. For this concert the music offered came from the 1992 film by Alain Corneau Tous les Matins du Monde. This beautiful film, with an imaginative scenario by Pascal Quignard, dealt with the relations between the reclusive master viola da gambist Monsieur de Sainte-Colombe (ca. 1640-ca.1701) and the young Marin Marais (1656-1728), whom Sainte-Colombe reluctantly agreed to tutor. So gifted was the pupil that Marin Marais quickly rose to become principal violist in the court orchestra of Louis XIV at Versailles, under the direction of Jean-Baptiste Lully. For this film, Jordi Savall directed and performed the music of Sainte-Colombe, Marais, Lully, Couperin, and others. Quite remarkably, the film Tous les Matins du Monde enjoyed huge international success. Moreover, a recording of the original sound track of this film became a hit among music buffs, thus expanding interest in early classical music. For the March 4 concert at Berkeley’s First Congregational Church, Le Concert des Nations was comprised of director Jordi Savall on seven-string viola da gamba; Manfredo Kraemer on violin; Charles Zebley on flute; Marco Vitale on harpsichord; Lucas Harris on theorbo and guitar; and Philippe Pierlot on seven-string viola da gamba. Opening the concert the musicians performed a Suite from the opera Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme by Jean-Baptiste Lully, composed for the play by Molière. Featured was ceremonial music for the Turks, and for this music, Lucas Harris played guitar, and Philippe Pierlot offered frequent pizzicato accompaniment to the ensemble. Next came the work entitled Le Retour, from the Concert XLI for two violes by Sainte-Colombe. The burnished tones of the two violas da gamba melded beautifully as they exchanged musical motifs in lively interaction.  

The third piece performed was a selection from Marin Marais’s 3rd and 4th books for Viola da gamba. Accompanied by harpsichord and theorbo, Jordi Savall and Philippe Pierlot offered delicate filigrees on violas da gamba and capped the selection with a vigourous finale entitled La Sautillante. Following this selection the full ensemble offered works by François Couperin from royal concerts at Versailles of 1722 and 1724. Especially noteworthy were the slow, dolorous Plaintes pour les Violes, exquisitely performed here by Jordi Savall and Philippe Pierlot. Then we heard excerpts from Marin Marais’s 2nd book of Pièces de Viole, accompanied by harpsichord and theorbo. For the conclusion of these selections, Lucas Harris switched from theorbo to guitar. Next came a work entitled Les Regrets by Sainte-Colombe. Here tears and joy alternated.The final work on the printed program was the immensely popular Sonnerie de Sainte-Genevieve du Mont-de-Paris by Marin Marais. In this beautiful work, the instruments pay homage to the ringing of the church bells at Église Sainte-Geneviève in Paris’s Latin Quarter. Included in this work is a lively interchange between violin and flute, admirably performed here by Manfredo Kraemer and Charles Zebley, over a repeated basso continuo motif from the two violas da gamba.  

For encores, Jordi Savall introduced a celebratory piece by 18th century French composer Philidor in honor of a noble childbirth, which featured Charles Zebley playing piccolo. Further, Savall introduced a lively second encore of two dances by iRameau.