I have recently read many complaints in local newspapers about “NIMBYs” using the California Environmental Quality Act to prevent the University of California from building housing on People’s Park. These complaints are just the latest in an ongoing attack on the California Environmental Quality Act.

Those who want less planning and regulation of development are fond of asserting that CEQA is “abused” by those who use it to prevent or modify destructive projects. They claim that CEQA was never intended to apply to private development, or that CEQA should only protect the natural environment, not urban neighborhoods. Both claims are refuted by the intent, language, and specifics of the law. (Read the broad legislative intent at www.sharonhudson.com/urbanrights.) California’s citizens who value quality of life should hold CEQA tight, because it is their only weapon against environmental degradation.

Some are surprised when courts actually enforce CEQA, much to the chagrin of developers pushing for rapid and unexamined urban densification. But courts do not (and should not) bend the law for those with “altruistic” goals, nor do courts have to answer to public demands for housing and sports stadiums. But politicians do respond to public opinion and so they have occasionally carved out exemptions to CEQA. Careful, limited exemptions for some small projects may be justified, but exemptions for large, potentially highly damaging projects are not.

Some outraged commentators also have a Polyanna-ish view of the University of California, which they view as a noble and benign entity, doing its darnedest on its shoestring budget, to educate deserving young Californians. Outsiders may believe this, but, as they say, “familiarity breeds contempt.” Most of UC’s near neighbors are sadly familiar with the brutal side of Cal. UC Berkeley has a history of broken promises, profit-maximizing, housing destruction, and freeloading off the resources of the City of Berkeley. And anyone who believes that universities are benevolent institutions primarily committed to education should read the 2005 book “University, Inc.” by Jennifer Washburn. -more-

Hunkering Down in the Dark
After our electric power went out for two days during the latest onslaught of an Atmosfearful River, we had an opportunity to revisit the magic of candlelight—and the frustration of discovering that most of our flashlights didn't work. -more-

The current psychiatrist I have in comparison to previous ones is more authoritarian toward me, but he is also thick with excuses. He is a stickler for the rules. He doesn't allow any bending of dosage guidelines (put forth by the AMA) --and he gives 'doctors orders' to that effect. But he will find ways to avoid being put on the spot. He is, actually, an RNP, a Nurse Practitioner. The psychiatrist who supervises him is a person whom I will probably never meet. I could have seen him or her in passing, and I would never know it. These authorities are making things uncomfortable and difficult. Other psychiatrists have not been as strict, and they gave credit for me having a modicum of intelligence. -more-

In a media post, Trump predicted that “potential death and destruction” may result if the Manhattan district attorney charges him for paying hush-money to a porn star during the 2016 presidential election. At his rally in Waco, Texas, he again railed at what he called the district attorney’s “prosecutorial misconduct” for following the law. (After all, he has dodged the law for so long.) -more-

One thing that the MAGA Republican and the liberal Democrat pols apparently agree upon is that the US should increasingly confront and provoke China, forcing an American-Chinese war that can reinforce US worldwide supremacy. That policy is not the will of the American people. It also stands against the interests of the Chinese government and the Chinese people because China will become the world’s most economically and politically powerful country only if peace prevails. Indeed, the course being charted here could doom modern civilization. That threat exposes the US two party system as no more a democracy (and perhaps less rational) than China with its single Chinese Communist-Capitalist Party. A multi-polar world is likely the only way toward a sanguinary future. -more-

Since Trump announced, erroneously, that he would be indicted last Tuesday, news media have been speculating breathlessly. -more-

I am writing to express my concern about the United States' support of the right-wing Israeli government. The current government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has been accused of multiple human rights violations against the Palestinian people, including illegal settlement building, home demolitions, and excessive use of force against peaceful protesters. -more-

My father when I was young tried to describe "mob rule.” I had no reference in my life for understanding what he said, and I remember only a fragment due to my memory loss brought about by pharmaceuticals. I had not been alive during WWII, and he had. He had spoken to people I had not, including his father, who apparently had been in the U.S. Navy in WWI. My heritage consists of many who’ve had close brushes with being killed. But when he’d spoken of Mob Rule, I’d had no concept of what he was talking about. However, looking back on the January sixth insurrection incited by the outgoing president, I have witnessed The Devil on television. -more-

Scottish-born violinist of Italian heritage Nicola Benedetti is in great demand internationally as a violin soloist with the world’s leading symphony orchestras. In addition, over the last decade she has been performing chamber music with German cellist Leonard Eischenbroich and British-Ukrainian pianist Alexei Grynyuk in a trio format. On Wednesday, March 22, this trio made its local debut at Herbst Theatre sponsored by San Francisco Performances. On the program were two Piano Trios: the E-flat Major Trio, D. 929, by Franz Schubert, and Piotr Tchaikovsky’s Piano Trio in A minor, Op. 50. -more-

Worth Noting:

City Council is on spring recess until April 11, 2023. Check the City website for late announcements and meetings posted on short notice at: https://berkeleyca.gov/ The Agenda Committee and Zoning Adjustment Board will meet in the hybrid format: in-person and online via ZOOM. All other City Commission meetings this coming week are in-person only with no ZOOM option.

Thursday is the GO TO MEETINGS day, pick your priority.

• SUNDAY, March 26:
  • Women’s Herstory celebrating Black Women leaders on ZOOM sponsored by Friends of Adeline
• TUESDAY: Another rain storm is on the way. Watch for severity predictions.
  • The Zero Waste Commission meets in-person at 7 pm with a 5-year rate hike and FoodWare To Go presentation on the agenda.
• WEDNESDAY:
  • The Agenda Committee meets at 2 pm in the hybrid format to finalize the City Council agenda that now lists 42 agenda items for April 11.
  • The Loan Administration Board meets at 3 pm to review requests to defer loan repayments.
  • The Environment and Climate Commission meets at 6 pm.
• THURSDAY – the Go To Meetings of the week:
  • The Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) meets at 7 pm with the Hopkins Corridor Plan and the Turtle Island project in Civic Center Park on the Agenda
  • At 7 pm the Zoning Adjustment Board (ZAB) will review the 25-story 2190 Shattuck mixed-use project.
  • At 7:30 pm (doors open at 7 pm) the Willard Neighborhood will have a presentation and Q&A on the Telegraph Plan for Dwight to Woolsey.
  • From 6 - 8 pm Open House for San Pablo Ave Corridor Project on safety enhancements and parallel bike routes.
• SATURDAY, April 1:
  • From 10 am – 12 pm the City is sponsoring a family centered free swim safety event at the West Pool (bring swimwear and towels)