When I learned last week from my social media and Internet connections that Gus Newport had died, I thought about a line I’d once heard sung by a gospel choir at St. Paul AME Church.
“After all I’ve seen, I still have joy.”
Gus approached everything in life with enormous enthusiasm, truly with joy: running for office, being in office, policy planning, academic endeavors, networking with the livelier parts of the left, and most of all, encouraging and mentoring his compañeros in the eternal struggle against evil .
On my laptop I have a sticker once handed out by The Nation, offering a quote from the late lamented Molly Ivins:
“We have to have fun while trying to stave off the forces of darkness because we hardly ever win, so it’s the only fun we get to have.”
Well, yes, but Gus was one of the few resolute progressives who did win, at least for a time, who actually won a couple of terms as mayor without sacrificing his principles, and still had fun.
He served seven years in the early 1980s. Many key progressive goals, notably effective rent control, were realized in Berkeley during his time in office. Ever afterwards he followed Berkeley politics with interest, even when he moved Back East for a spell.
While living in the Boston area, he taught at MIT and worked with community organizations. He was especially proud of a method he’d devised for exacting meaningful community benefits from developers who demanded lucrative zoning concessions. He also lectured at Yale, the University of Massachusetts and UC Santa Cruz.
Back in the Bay Area, he supported a great variety of progressive candidates for office, bringing in his host of national and international friends when necessary. He snagged Bernie Sanders to support Jesse Arreguin for his first term as Berkeley mayor, though he later expressed disappointment in Jesse and declined to back him a second time. But the remarkable thing about Gus was that he endorsed and disparaged potential political allies with equal enthusiasm and generosity.
In a multitude of ways Gus Newport epitomized the character of Wordsworth's "happy warrior", to which many politicians have aspired, from Al Smith to Hubert Humphrey to Barack Obama, but few achieved.
Carole Kennerley Davis, who served on the Berkeley City Council with Gus in the ‘80s. recalled that you could have a vigorous disagreement with him on matters of principle at council meetings, and ten minutes later you’d be friends again. Holding grudges was not his style, which is why he achieved so much.
We’ll miss him.
Here’s the Berkeley Historical Society’s interview with Gus in 2021:
Daniel Ellsberg, Presente I heard the announcement of Daniel Ellsberg's death on the car radio. The news about Dan's terminal illness was already known but the loss was still—and remains—deeply felt. Always ready to speak truth to power, Dan ended his days like he ended his letters:
With "love."
Resist in Peace, Dan.
Recalling Ellsberg's role in exposing the lies behind the US War on Vietnam ("The Pentagon Papers") and the decades of cover-ups behind suicidal US nuclear policy ("The Doomsday Machine"), I had a vision: A crowd of millions gathered outside the Pentagon in Ellsberg's name, holding photos of Ellsberg, Julian Assange, Edward Snowden, and Daniel Hale. And all armed with ... whistles.
Ellsberg's Biggest Reveal Dan Ellsberg's Big Leak exposed a salient fact about the US that has become increasingly relevant over the years: Despite all the talk about America being a land of "freedom and democracy," Ellsberg's act of moral defiance revealed a stark truth: The US government lies to the US public.
As H.R. Haldeman, Richard Nixon’s Chief of Staff, once told his boss, the Pentagon Papers leak could be Deep State America's undoing: “You can’t trust the government; you can’t believe what they say; and you can’t rely on their judgment. And the implicit infallibility of presidents, which has been an accepted thing in America, is badly hurt by this.”
One of Ellsberg's most chilling revelations came from his work with nuclear war strategists who had access to the Pentagon's darkest secrets. On October 24, 2016, Ellsberg shared the following Apocalyptic Truth:
"Most of our [nuclear] warheads, our counterforce, are for striking first, They are for preemption, they are for damage limiting, which, if you believe the studies (which I do), is totally infeasible. Everybody dies, whether you go first or second."
The Chronicle's Chronic Culls I can recall when San Francisco's once-robust Chronicle consisted of four separate sections. These days, the Chron has been downsized to a mere two sections. The first section is devoted to a few long local news pieces while world news is confined to a half-dozen short items at the bottom corner of an inside page. The sporting section, datebook/culture section, jobs section, obituary listings and the comics are now scrambled together in a single section that shares floor space with crossword puzzles and Dear Abby.
Editing has also taken a turn for the lax. In just the past few days, a caption for prominent front-page photo on the Sport Section should have begun with the word "with." Instead, it began with the word "will." On another page, auto-hyphenation produced a column of type with a line-up of six successive hyphenations. The seventh line consisted of just two words—"an announcement"—separated by a long empty space. The word "announcement" was hyphenless.
Page 6 of the June 21 Chronicle featured an article headlined: "Supreme Court rejects bid to topple AB5 worker law." It began with the following sentence: "The US Supreme Court rejected a challenge Tuesday to a California law that classified political signature-gathering 'doorknockers' as employees entitled to payment…."
The problem? The word "doorknockers" was hyphenated (by AI intervention is my guess) so that, instead of "door-knocker" the word was transformed into "doork-nocker."
Fashion Plates OTRRELM: Otter Realm LTLMAML: Little Mammal HRDCGAM: Hard to See a Leg? MARI TAN: Wedded to a Sun-lover? IVANGEO: Ivan's a Geologist? SISSYS1: Sissy Is Number One? [Heart-sign] BERKCA: You gotta love Berkeley, California
Bumper Snickers The Lifestyle You Ordered Is Currently Out of Stock We Have Enough Youth. How About a Fountain of Smart? I Was Addicted to the Hokey-Pokey but I Turned Myself Around I'll Believe Corporations Are People When Texas Executes One May the Forest Be With You And, on a plate frame: "Kindly Get Off My Tail"
"It's Already on Our Webpage" There's an all-too-common work-place conversation that takes place on the Internet, usually between employees and management but also between over-tasked workers. Someone emails a plaintive request for information—or makes a suggestion for improving the "delivery of product"—only to receive a snippy response that reads: "We're already doing that. Just look it up on our webpage!"
Maybe it's time to introduce a new kind of font to call attention to useful information that seems hidden in plain sight.
We already have several ways to draw attention to a special word or phrase—italic, bold, underlined, ALL CAPS, different fonts, different colors, and back-shading with colors.
Maybe it's time to introduce a new, can't-miss-it electronic font. It could be called the "Flash," the "Blink," the "Neon," or the "Vibrate."
The Writers' Strike Bring back the writers! As the Writers Guild of America strike marks it's 50th day, I have to admit I've been missing my nightly dose of political mockery. I miss TV's Three Mocksateers—Colbert, Kimmel, and Fallon. And then there's Saturday Night Live.
How about using this time-out to treat the audience to reruns of classic SNL episodes of SNL—with Armisen, Aykroyd, Belushi, Carvey, Chase, Curtin, Dratch, Farley, Ferrel, Fey, Forte, Franken, Hader, Lovitz, Miller, Morgan, Murphy, Murray, Myers, Nealon, Newman, Novello, Pharoah, Piscopo, Poehler, Quinn, Radner, Rock, Rudolph, Samberg, Sandler, Shannon, Short, Spade, Sudeikis, and Wiig.
And here's another recourse. While there are no writers being paid to ridicule political leaders—and misleaders—why not invite America's kids to hop in front of the camera and improvise on joke-worthy topics—for free. The broadcasts could be called "Just Kidding."
Here's a sample from one of Jimmy Kimmel's late-night, pre-strike sidewalk interviewsin which a parade of preteens was asked to share their thoughts of then-president Donald Trump.
The Hopkins Street Standoff Allow me to chime in on the contentious fate of Hopkins Street. This North Berkeley byway has become the battleground for two contesting visions—one that envisions the street reconfigured to benefit bicycle riders and one that retains existing car lanes and parking spots for people shopping at the Monterey Market and surrounding blocks of small businesses.
While the debate rages online and in public—with competing yard signs lining neigborhood sidewalks—one current and existing fact remains: This well-trafficked street is overdue for repaving. But the City Council is considering a pitch to postpone the paving plan for several years and use the budgeted Hopkins roadwork funds elsewhere in the city.
This should have no immediate impact on the debate over where and how to paint bike lanes. Bike lanes can continue to be debated after the much-needed paving work is finished.
If there's a downside to proceeding with the repaving now, I can't see it.
And if there were a problem, I guess I could just sigh and say: "It's nobody's asphalt but our own."
Gun Violence
Here's an update on gun violence in the Home of the Brave, courtesy of the Brady Assault Rifle Ban Accountability Project
• At the time this email was written, 13,501 people had lost their lives to gun violence this year.
• Americans are 25 times more likely to die from gun violence than people in other high-income countries. • 3 million American kids are exposed to gun violence every year.
And, according to an appeal posted by the ActionNetwork: "There have been 164 mass-shootings so far in 2023—about 1.5 per day."
Meanwhile, a Senate investigation found evidence the National Rifle Association had collaborated with Russia to influence US elections and was also accused of misusing its tax-exempt status by funneling millions to top executives. (The IRS has yet to conduct an investigation.}
TV news is a medium that has been accused of sensationalism. That charge arose again following the April 8 on-air comments of a reporter on KRON's "We Investigate" newscast.
The Investigative Team had raised concerns over the safety of San Francisco's transit fleet—specifically, whether the dim headlights on Muni buses increased collision risks.
The broadcast began with the death of a woman who was struck by a Muni bus while walking in the street. There was video footage of the collision and, as frequently happens, the on-air reporter cautioned the viewing audience by announcing: "Warning: The video you are about to see is disturbing."
As the dash-cam video clip began to play, the "We Investigate" newscaster quickly added one more piece of advice for the audience: "Don't blink or you might miss it!"
Catalytic Converters and Cat Shields
Catalytic converters: they've been around for more than ten years. Likewise, catalytic conversion thefts. So why haven't the automakers bothered to install catalytic conversion protection shields in the factory before sending these at-risk vehicles out to be sold at dealerships? Why do the carmakers continue to produce vulnerable cars?
Why hasn't law enforcement made it illegal to walk into a recycling yard with a load of converters to sell? Why are stolen catalytic converters openly on sale via the Internet? Why are recycling centers still offering to purchase illicit stashes of stolen converters? No one has a legitimate excuse to be walking around with a bunch of loose converters stuffed in a bag. Anyone trying to fence a converter might as well be wearing a T-shirt that says: "I'm a CAT Burglar."
When cars are vandalized, why do the car companies simply advise victimized owners to purchase protective shields from the Cat Shield company? Does Toyota receive royalties for encouraging customers to install trademarked Cat Shields?
California has finally taken steps to stop Cat grabbers by requiring serial numbers on all converters. A simple solution, long-overdue. The news headline could read: Cat Tats Tell Cat Rats, "Scat!"
Fentanylanation In related news: who benefits from the sale of fentanyl—the deadly drug that's been killing kids across the country? While addictive drugs are long-term money makers, fentanyl is so deadly that it kills its customers. That means no recurring purchases; no repeat users. So how to the drug cartels profit?
Fentanyl is frequently disguised as candy—suggesting that the goal is to kill innocent, unsuspecting victims as well as intentional users. The appearance of these bogus "candy-bate" death-pills has served to create a growing climate of fear. But if potential customers are (1) winding up dead or (2) avoiding the consumption of suspect fentanylized "candies," how do the cartels profit?
The goal seems to be to create a product that threatens to poison both drug users and innocent victims alike. The only part of the economy that stands to profit from such a situation would be the company that manufactures life-saving Narcan inhalers. This leaves one to wonder: Are Mexico's Sinaloa cartels investing in Emergent BioSolutions, the Irish-based company that profits from the sales of Naloxone and Narcan Nasal Spray?
Clothing Remarks An email pal recently shared this story: "I knew a guy in Brooklyn. If he walked by a laundry-mat on 7th Avenue and happened to notice an attractive woman inside, he would rush home, grab some laundry, and rush back to the laundromat."
My reply: "He shoulda been wearing a pre-filled backpack."
This reminded me of another friend who once had a college roommate from a super-rich family. "The guy never did laundry," my friend recalled. "Instead, each week he had new pants, shirts, and underwear delivered to our dorm room and he simply tossed his week-old clothes into the garbage."
Trump Takes a Beatling "Donald In the John With Boxes"
In the past twenty-two years I've had the recurring privilege of being a published writer. However, I've also experienced a psychotic condition for my entire adult life. I'm in my late fifties, and I've been medicated for psychosis and mood changes for the past forty years.
When I was in my early twenties, I was still well enough to work at skilled and unskilled employment and support myself with the wages. As I got older, I've needed to obtain Social Security and SSI to survive.
Psychosis interferes with life the most when it goes untreated. When in treatment, we may function well enough that a psychiatric condition doesn't define us. For others, they/we may need to maintain a lot of treatment. This includes medication and counseling in my case. Some mentally ill people need supervision in life activities.
Because I'm still competent and can function at professional activities (before taking up writing, I owned and operated a home electronics repair sole proprietorship), I sometimes receive a level of respect that would normally not be afforded disabled people, although this is unfair. Also unfair is where a lot of people don't respect me and scoff when they see evidence of accomplishments. People see what they expect to see. When they look at me, they aren't looking at reality, they are looking at their own projections.
My life was very hard until I learned better management of my condition. Life continues to be hard, not because of being psychotic, but because of the lack of income accompanying a disability. I am also multiphobic and I have a lot of paranoid tendencies. This makes it harder to function in life.
Most Americans have misconceptions about mentally ill people, and they do not try to understand us. They lack an incentive to understand us. Most people typically see us as dangerous, insane, nuisance people. And they may not educate themselves about us until a close family member or friend is stricken with schizophrenia or bipolar.
People afflicted with psychotic or bipolar conditions face lives of psychotic symptoms, of unbearable medication side effects, of repeat hospitalizations, of poor or no career and/or relationship prospects--and many of us have a shortened life expectancy.
Mentally ill people are often invalidated. Where I live, mental health treatment is more humane and gentler than it was twenty and thirty years ago. Yet in society at large, people have become decreasingly tolerant of behaviors that don't fit a narrowing norm. If we go to a public place, it seems that people are suspicious or overly cautious. And many people may presume we lack basic intelligence.
Symptoms of schizophrenia include "delusions," as well as hallucinations, and changes in mood. These are observable, assessable mental phenomena and are caused by biologically based brain malfunctions. It is not something we can just "snap out of", as seen in ancient Hollywood movies of the nineteen forties, nor is it something we can cure with brown rice and ten mile runs every morning (a nineteen eighties type misconception). Specific treatments are necessary, including medications.
We are a badly misunderstood group--most are good people with uncooperative brains.
When we are seen as individuals with hearts and minds, it is obvious that we have massive obstacles to overcome in our lives. Some of us, who face death at an early age or who face total disability, might never get an adequate chance to be successful in life.
In life, I haven't been afraid to get my hands dirty, to fall flat on my face and get back up, and to compete. I've been successful at some things, and a flop at others. I'm grateful that I'm still here, and still trying to create a better life, for myself and for anyone who cares to read my material. And that's all a person can do in life, just keep trying, because whether you're mentally ill or not, no one will do it for you.
Jack Bragen is author of "Instructions for Dealing with Schizophrenia: A Self-Help Manual, and other works.
Dave Mandel, ASLA, MLA,Acting City Planning Manager, East Palo Alto (ret'd.), U.C. Berkeley Long-Range & Envrmtl Planner (ret'd.) -U.C. Berkeley/U. Washington/ Oklahoma State U. Landscape Architecture & City Planning Teacher (ret'd.) -California License
Monday June 26, 2023 - 01:25:00 PM
I am a planning, landscape & parks professional of 5 decades' experience, so hope you will give my note your attention. I also happen to be disabled enough to need to use a high-quality walker.
The Stegman Marina circumference trail is a hazard to persons with disabilities. Its surface is eroded, cracked, altogether disintegrated in areas, and tree-root impacted. It is not just burdensome to negotiate with a wheelchair, walker or crutches; it is a harm and a potential lawsuit waiting to happen.
The trail is so difficult to negotiate, even with my exceptionally large-wheeled "Drive Medical Nitro Rollator" (see pic), that I am forced to use the adjacent dirt/gravel "desire line" jogging path instead -- which is just barely more negotiable.
I wrote on this concern to the Berkeley City Council four years ago. No reply. I wrote again two years ago, citing the millions spent on the beautifully-restored Marina roadways. Mayor Jesse Arreguin responded, advising me that the State had just granted a significant chunk to the City and that the Stegman Trail would be addressed.
Nothing has happened: no project proposals, no RFQs, no RFPs, no CEQA actions. No action at all to ensure equal safe access to the waterfront for the disabled. For a City renowned for its claims of diversity and accessibility, the condition of the Stegman Trail and the City's inaction and apparent lack of concern comprise a travesty worthy of the widest public awareness.
I wrote again to Mayor Jesse two months ago. No reply.
Now the City is crowing about a $120+M pier and ferry terminal project while decrying an overall Marina budget shortfall -- as usual, couched in terms of lost business, tourism and commuter income rather than in consideration of citizen needs and access.
Please inform me timely on your own and the City's specific hopes and intentions for replacing the now-irreparable Stegman Trail. I assure you that I will NOT let this concern die quietly.
I am appalled that our government is aiding terrorist attacks by Israeli settlers and the army on defenseless Palestinian civilians including young children. For decades the US government has donated $billions of aid and a blanket complete impunity to facilitate these terrorist attacks.
From drone strikes to Settler terrorist attacks, Israel is intensifying efforts to drive out all Palestinians to usher in a “greater Israel.”
Israel has launched several attacks on Palestinians with new weapons, including deploying U.S.-made Apache helicopter gunships inside the West Bank and firing a targeted assassination aerial strike. Jewish settlers have also raided Palestinian villages in the West Bank, attacking residents and setting fire to homes and vehicles. Mariam Barghouti, senior Palestine correspondent for Mondoweiss, calls the attacks “an intensification to completely take over Palestine.”
The growing violence is reflective of the leadership of Israel’s minister of national security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, who recently called for the renewing of Defensive Shield, a military operation which used similar weaponry in 2002 that has been condemned for “crimes against humanity.” This all comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right government has agreed to accelerate the process for approving new settlements in the West Bank despite criticism from the United Nations, European Union and United States.
Mr. Biden, it's time to stiffen your spin, call om Prime Minister Netanyahu to immediately halt Israel’s terrorism, end the occupation and lift the siege of Gaza.
I was very disappointed -- in fact, devastated -- to learn of the annihilation of the Savannah Sparrow's grassland habitat in Chavez Park that took place several weeks ago.
It strikes me as inconceivable, given the precarious state of our natural world, that a City of Berkeley employee (or contractor) would mow down an area of the park where not only the Savannah Sparrow, but the Song Sparrow and Western Meadowlark, are known to breed, nest, brood, and feed hatchlings from March through July.
As councilperson of the district which encompasses Chavez Park, I would like to know if any employees are being held to account for this incompetence? I would hope so.
As the Chavez Park Conservancy noted, "Having your nest destroyed by a mower may be similar to having your home with your babies blown away by a hurricane."
June 25, 2013, ten years ago on Sunday, marks the day that the U.S. Supreme Court effectively gutted the Voting Rights Act, opening the opportunity for voter suppression to be reinstated. Since that date legislators across the states have introduced a record-breaking number of restrictive voting laws. The freedom to vote is connected to our ability to beat back regressive policies such as those targeting abortion access and LBGTQ rights. Voting rights protect all other rights. Without the VRA's full protections, and as the big lie fuels anti-voter laws, we must continue to call on our leaders to protect and strengthen our freedom to vote. And each of us can do our part by registering new voters, by speaking about the importance of the right to vote, and by urging action on the part of our legislators and public officials.
Berkeley-born composer Gabriela Lena Frank’s first opera, El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego, became both the first Spanish-language opera ever performed at SF Opera and the first opera by a woman composer ever done there. That’s heady stuff indeed! You’d think that in writing a review of this opera, critics would take note of these facts. However, Chronicle critic Joshua Kosman never once even mentions these remarkable facts in his June 21 review.
With a libretto by Cuban-born writer Nilo Cruz, El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego (The Last Dream of Frida and Diego) sets forth a fantasy around the tempestuous love affair of Mexican painters Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. Interestingly, the opera takes place on November 2, 1957, on The Day of the Dead (El Dia de los Muertos), three years after Frida Kahlo has died. As this opera opens, Diego Rivera, now aged and seriously ill himself, is seen at a cemetery where Mexican villagers gather to honor their departed loved ones. Diego longingly intones his hope that Frida will return to him on this day when the Mexican dead are popularly thought to return to visit their loved ones. El Último Sueño is conducted by Mexican Roberto Kalb, who is debuting here.
In the role of Diego Rivera was Mexican baritone Alfredo Daza, who portrayed the pot-bellied painter, now on his last legs, as limping with the aid of a cane. When Diego impatiently buys flowers from an old woman, he leaves the stage, and the old woman reveals herself as La Caterina, Keeper of the Dead. Now the scene shifts to the Underworld, known in Aztec myth as Mictlán, where La Caterina, powerfully sung by Chilean soprano Yaritza Véliz, summons Frida Kahlo to arise and return to visit Diego. La Caterina is imposingly costumed in a body-suit inscribed with a skeleton’s bones, as if she too is one of the dead. Yet La Caterina gets to select those among the dead who will obtain a day pass to return to visit the living. She tells Frida that Diego is calling for her, but Frida doesn’t believe her and refuses to return to Diego. In the role of Frida was Argentine mezzo-soprano Daniela Mack, who has previously been heard here as Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia. Throughout El Último Sueño, Daniela Mack’s Frida wears a dazzling array of dresses by Costume Designer Eloize Kazan, and in Act II there is even a triptych of alternate Fridas who appear wearing some of Frida Kahlo’s most distinctive apparels of self-portraiture.
Meanwhile, still in Act I’s Underworld, Frida encounters a character named Leonardo, who poses as a drag Greta Garbo, sung by countertenor Jake Ingbar. Frida applauds Leonardo’s imitation of Greta Garbo and encourages him in his desire to return to the living to honor a fan of the real Greta Garbo. As Leonardo is introduced here, there ensues one of this opera’s most lyrical bits of orchestral writing, as composer Gabriela Lena Frank’s score features a lovely violin solo, beautifully played here by Concertmaster Kay Stern. In extended dialogue with Frida, Leonardo encourages her to return to the living at least to paint a new Frida without the pain and anguish she experienced throughout her life. Leonardo dresses Frida in one of her trademark outfits, and Frida begins to waver in her refusal to return. Eventually, as Act I comes to an end, Frida agrees to return for the 24-hour Day of the Dead.
Musically, Act I is notable mainly for the imperious vocals of La Caterina, powerfully performed here by Yaritza Véliz. One might also note the ominous orchestral chord that opens this opera. The vocal writing for Frida in Act I mostly emphasises her bitter memories of physical and emotional pain in a lifetime marred by childhood polio and a terrible trolley accident in her late teens. As for Diego, his music in Act I offers little but his intense loneliness in an old age bereft of the presence of his painter-wife and soulmate Frida, whom he longingly implores to return to him.
Visually, El Último Sueño offres a pageantry of shifting colors and shapes, illuminated by lighting designer Victor Zapatero. Designer Jorge Ballina’s sets strike a subtle balance between huge crowd scenes at the cemetery or in the Underworld and, on the other hand, relatively bare stage expanses that focus our attention on specific characters. Stage Director Lorena Maza deftly employs movement to avoid any hint of a static opera.
As Act II opens, Diego is seen alone in his studio, trying unsuccessfully to paint. Bereft of inspiration, he bemoans the absence of Frida, who suddenly appears before him having returned for The Day of the Dead. Diego is overjoyed to see Frida and seeks to embrace her. But Frida cautions him that the rules forbid the dead from touching or being touched by the living. In a brilliant retort, Diego asks Frida since when did she ever play by the rules? Nonetheless, Frida keeps her distance.
Now Frida and Diego go for a walk in Mexico City’s Alameda Central Park. Frida is delighted by her absence of pain. But when a beggar-woman asks for alms, Diego reflects on his lifelong Marxist hopes for a more equitable world. Together, Diego and Frida ponder the sad state of their ancient city, where poverty still reigns. Frida encounters Leonardo and learns he has fulfilled the dream of his Greta Garbo-adoring fan, thereby accomplishing the acting performance of his life, for which Frida applauds him. Then Diego leads Frida to her beloved home, Casa Azul, where inspired by her familiar surroundings, Frida tries to paint. But lacking a physical substance in the world of the living, Frida finds no image of herself to paint. Diego again seeks to embrace Frida, even asking her forgiveness of all the pain his infidelities caused her. La Caterina now reappears and warns Frida against touching the living and she cautions Frida that her 24-hour time limit is fast approaching.
Realising that time is indeed running out, Frida gives in and embraces Diego. The lovers cling to each other. In their loving embrace, they have entered a dream world. But Frida reminds Diego that they cannot live forever in a dream world. So Diego vows to ask Miclantecutli, God of the Aztec Underworld, to call him back to the world of the dead with Frida. Diego says his time of death has come. La Caterina reminds him that humans don’t decide the time of their death, only Mictantecutli does so. But Frida implores La Caterina for help, and the Keeper of the Dead calls forth Mictantecutli, who welcomes Diego among the dead. As the opera ends, Frida and Diego whisper that they will now be together for eternity.
Musically, Act II offers far more opportunity for Diego to express his character. both in solos before Frida reappears to him, and, especially, in dialogue with Frida once they are reunited. In the role of Diego, baritone Alfredo Daza was vocally excellent and dramatically compelling. Likewise, Daniela mack as Frida has more opportunity in Act II to develop her multi-faceted character. All told, the music of Act II is a notch or so above that of Act I; and conductor Roberto Kalb deftly brought out the rich variety of colors in this music, including a touch of Mariachi trumpets in Act II.
Finally, in small roles were baritone John Fulton, tenor Moiséa Salazar, bass Ricardo Lugo, soprano Mikayla Sager, mezzo-soprano Nikola Printz, mezzo-soprano Gabrielle Beteag, and mezzo-soprano Whitney Steele. One more performance of El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego is scheduled for Friday, June 30, at 7:30.
Summer is here with the community picnic, movies in the park and Pride on the Plaza with drag performances.
Monday
At 2:30 pm the Agenda and Rules Committee meets in the hybrid format to finalize the July 11 City Council meeting and continue discussion on Council legislative process
Tuesday
At 10 am the Solano BID meets in person.
At 6 pm City Council meets in the hybrid format and will vote to finalize the FY 2024 budget.
At 6 pm the Zero Waste Commission meets in person.
Thursday
From 9 am – 4 pm is the Community Picnic at San Pablo Park,
From 4 pm – 7 pm is the Pride on Plaza event with music and drag show
Friday
At 11 am the Civic Arts Grants Subcommittee meets.
From 8:40 – 10:30 pm is the movie Minions the rise of Gru at the Strawberry Creek Park.
KPFA – To vote for the local Board of Directors later this summer, if you have not already contributed $25 the deadline is June 30. The local board in turn will select four Directors to serve on the National Board.
The Land Use Calendar of appeals and Council Special Meetings and Worksessions are listed near the end of the Calendar.
Check the City website for late announcements and meetings posted on short notice at: https://berkeleyca.gov/
Directions with links to ZOOM support for activating Closed Captioning and Save Transcript are at the bottom of this calendar.
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BERKELEY PUBLIC MEETINGS AND CIVIC EVENTS
Sunday, June 25, 2023 - no city meetings, events listed
Monday, June 26, 2023
AGENDA AND RULES COMMITTEE Meeting at 2:30 pm
Hybrid Meeting
In-Person: at 2180 Milvia, 6th Floor – Redwood Room
Teleconference: 1-669-254-5252 or 1-833-568-8864 (Toll Free)
Meeting ID: 161 841 0107
AGENDA: Public Comment on non-agenda and items 1 – 7. 1. Minutes, 2. Review and Approve 7/11/2023 draft agenda – use link or read full draft agenda below at the end of the list of city meetings, 3. Berkeley Considers, 4. Adjournment in Memory, 5. Council Workssessions, 6. Referrals for scheduling, 7. Land Use Calendar, Referred Items for Review: 8. a. Discussion of Potential Changes to City Council Legislative Process, 8. b. Discussion Regarding Design and Strengthening of Policy Committees Process and Structure (Including Budget Referrals), Unscheduled Items: 9. Modifications or Improvements to City Council meeting procedures, 10. Strengthening and Supporting City Commission: Guidance on Development of Legislative Proposals, 11. Discussion and Recommendations on the Continued Use of the Berkeley Considers Online Engagement Portal.
SOLANO AVENUE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD at 10 am
In-Person: 1801 Solano, Mechanics Bank
AGENDA: 5. Review Invoices, 6. Update on Solano Ave Revitalization RFP and project planning and coordinated with changes Albany is considering, 7. Update on the Zoning Amendments to support small business (Planning Commission 6/7/2023), 8. Work Plan, Holiday Décor 2023-2024; review tree well progress
AGENDA: 6. At 6:30 pm Staff Updates on Rates, Progress on Zero Waste Strategic Plan, Progress on SB-1383, SUDs Ordinance Enforcement, Plastic Bag Ordinance, Discussion and Action Items: 1. At 6:50 pm Ridwell Presentation, 2. At 7:10 pm Berkeley Food Network, 3. At 7:30 om Formation of Sub-Committee to Review Green Building Requirements, 4. At 7:40 pm Discuss Legislative Updates
Wednesday, June 28, 2023 – Islam Eid al-Adha – no city meetings or events
Thursday, June 29, 2023
COMMUNITY PICNIC from 9 am – 4 pm
At 2800 Park, San Pablo Park
(Free Event)
Afternoon of activities for youth and teens with giant inflatables, wall climbing, burgers catered by Fuddruckers, a petting zoo, tot zone, sports zone
MOVIES in the PARK: MINIONS THE RISE of GRU from 8:40 pm to 10:30 pm
1260 Allston Way, Strawberry Creek Park
(Free Event)
Bring blankets, sleeping bags, and/or low-back beach chairs with maximum height of 9” off the ground, alcohol free event, flashlight suggested for walking out at the end of the evening
Peter Radu, City Manager’s Office – Encampment Resolution Funding Grant Award of $4,931,058 from state of California
Peter Radu, City Manager’s Office – Urgency Ordinance for leasing 1619 University (Super 8 Motel) for 60 months
Peter Radu, City Manager’s Office – Contract $7,295,635 with Insight Housing (formerly Berkeley food and Housing Project) to operate an interim housing program at Super 8 Motel (1619 University) from 8/1/2023 to 7/31/2028
Warhuus, HHCS – Contract $100,000 2 Plus 1 Housing Resolution Services for Harriet Tubman Terrace Tenant Advocate from 7/15/2023 – 7/15/2024
Warhuus, HHCS – Contract $150,000 with Street Level Advisors for Affordable Housing Requirements Economic Feasibility Analysis from 7/15/2023 – 7/15/2024
Warhuus, HHCS – Amend contract #32300134 add $68,000 total $4,568,000 with Bonita House for Specialized Care Unit Provider for the Specialized Care Unit
Warhuus, HHCS –Amend contract #321001100 add $53,424 total $109,218 with JotForm, Inc. for a HIPPA Compliant Platform and extend to 5/12/2026
Warhuus, HHCS – Authorize application and participation in Prohousing Designation Program with California Department of Housing and Community development (HCD)
Aram Kouyoumdjian, HR – Amend contract #32000226 total $233,736 (amount added not given) with MidAmerica Administrative & Retirement Solutions for administration of SRIP | Disability, Retiree Health Premium Assistance Plan (RHPAP) Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) and Police Employee Retiree Income Plans (PERIP) for 1/12021 – 12/31/2025
Aram Kouyoumdjian, HR – Amend contract #32300158 total $750,000 (amount added not given) with AppleOne Employment Services for temporary staffing from 2/1/2023 – 6/30/2025
Aram Kouyoumdjian, HR – Revisions to the Unrepresented Employee Manual1) Merit raises in current classification, 2) Aligns vacation accrual and longevity pay rates and vacation sell-back policies for the Fire Chief, the Police Chief and their deputies 3) Includes Office Specialists III among classifications that qualify for the City Manager Department Differential
Aram Kouyoumdjian, HR – Supplemental Military Leave Compensation Policy to offer City’s supplemental ilitary leave compensation benefit retroactively from 6/1/2019 – 6/30/2025 to provide wages to supplement an employee’s military pay and allowances for a period not to exceed two years that must be taken within 36 months of the leave request for emplyees called up to involuntary active military service
Ferris, Parks – Accept grant $5,138,685 from Alameda County Transportation Commission for the Berkeley Pier Water Transportation / Ferry Project
Ferris, Parks – Amend contract #32000188 add $75,000 total $225,000 with GSI Environmental Inc. for on-call environmental consulting services and extend term from 12/20/2023 – 6/30/2025
Louis, BPD – Amend contract #32300022 add $150,000 total $200,000 with Public Safety Family Counseling Group, Inc. for additional critical incident stress management (CISM), education and counseling services
Housing Advisory Commission – Conduct a Study on the City’s History of Discriminatory Actions in Housing Policies/Programs that adversely impacted the Black community and its ability to remain and grow in the city, build inter-generational wealth and fully realize the benefits of homeownership and how lessons learned can inform future housing policies and programs
Wong, City Auditor – Report Staff Shortages, City services Constrained by Staff Retention Challenges and Delayed Hiring
Arreguin – Reappoint Thomas-Rodriguez, Max Levine and Ali Kashani to Berkeley Housing Authority of Commissioners
Arreguin – Support Rooftop Solar and Battery Storage for Multifamily Housing and Schools and send resolution to Newsom, Skinner, Wicks and CPUC in support of Virtual Net Energy Metering (VNEM) and Net Energy Metering Aggregation (NEM-A)
Arreguin – Relinquishment of Council Office Budget Funds to the Kala Art Institute the fiscal sponsor for the Chavez/Huerta Tribute Site
Taplin - Relinquishment of Council Office Budget Funds to support the Berkeley Humane Society adoption event
Taplin - Relinquishment of Council Office Budget Funds for BHS all class reunion
Bartlett – Resolution in support for unionized employees of REI
Harrison, Arreguin - Relinquishment of Council Office Budget Funds and co-sponsorship fo the Cesar Chavez, Dolores Heurta Tribute Site Curriculum Project
Harrison – Resolution opposing Tokyo Electric Power Company and the Government of Japan’s Planned Discharge of Wastewater from Fukushima Daichi Nuclear Power Plant into the Pacific Ocean
AGENDA on ACTION:
Zoning Ordinance Amendments to Title 23 of BMC to Conform to State Law and Make Non-Substantive Technical Edits
Warhuus, HHCS – Referral Response: Affordable Housing Preferance Policy for rental housing created through below market rate and Housing Trust Fund Programs
Adoption – Civic Center Phase II – Design Concept
De-prioritizing the enforcement of laws imposing criminal penalties for Entheogenic/Psychedelic plants and fungi for personal use
Excused absence for Vice Mayor Ben Bartlett
Harrison – Adopt an Ordinance Adding Chapter 12.75 to BMC to establish protections relating to animals held, owned, used, exhibited or otherwise kept for racing or other sport, entertainment of profit
Hahn – Dedicated Public Comment Time for City of Berkeley Unions at the beginning of City Council meetings
INFORMATION REPORTS:
Annual Report on Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) Actions
City Auditor FY 2024 Audit Plan
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June 27, 2023 Agenda for CITY COUNCIL Meeting at 6 pm
A Hybrid Meeting
In-Person: at 1231 Addison St. in the School District Board Room
2nd reading - Klein, Planning and Development - Bird Safe Building Requirements; Adding Berkeley Municipal Code Section 23.304.150
2nd reading - Oyekanmi, Finance – FY 2024 Tax Rate: Fund the Debt Service on the Affordable Housing General Obligation Bonds (Measure O, Nov 2018 Election) at 0,0250%
2nd reading - Oyekanmi, Finance – FY 2024 Tax Rate: FundFirefighting, Emergency Medical Response and Wildfire Prevention (Measure FF) at annual tax rate of $0.1176 (11.76 cents)
2nd reading - Oyekanmi, Finance – FY 2024 Tax Rate: Fund Debt Service on Neighborhood Branch Library Improvements Project General Obligation Bonds (Measure FF, November 2008) at 0.0050%
2nd reading - Oyekanmi, Finance – FY 2024 Tax Rate: FundService on 2015 Refnding General Obligation Bonds (Measures G, S & I) elections 1992, 1996 and 2002 at o.0115%
2nd reading - Oyekanmi, Finance – FY 2024 Tax Rate: Fund the Debt Service on the Infrastructure and Facilities General Obligation Bonds (Measure T1, November 2016) at 0.0140%
2nd reading - Oyekanmi, Finance – FY 2024 Tax Rate: Fund the Debt Service on the Street and Watershed Improvements General Obligation Bonds (Measure M, November 2012)
2nd reading - Oyekanmi, Finance – FY 2024 Tax Rate: Business License Tax on Large Non-Profits at $0.7909 per square foot of improvements
2nd reading - Oyekanmi, Finance – FY 2024 Tax Rate: Fund the Maintenance of Parks, City Trees and Landscaping at $0.2130
2nd reading - Oyekanmi, Finance – FY 2024 Tax Rate: Fund the Provision of Emergency Medical Services (Paramedic Tax) at $0.0451
2nd reading - Oyekanmi, Finance – FY 2024 Tax Rate: FundEmergency Services for the Severely Disabled (Measure E) at $0.02018)
2nd reading - Fair Campaign Practices Commission – Amendments to Berkeley Election Reform Act to modify the forms required to open a campaign committee, change the deadline to qualify for public financing, clarify rules
2nd reading - Arreguin, Harrison, Hahn, Robinson - Amendments to the COVID-19 Emergency Response Ordinance.
Oyekanmi, Finance – FY 2024 Tax Rate: Fund fire Protection and Emergency Response and Preparedness Measure GG
Oyekanmi, Finance – FY 2024 Special Tax Rate: Fund Library Services
Oyekanmi, Finance – Appropriations Limit for FY 2024 $342,803,053
Oyekanmi, Finance – Revisions to the Debt Management and Disclosure Policy
Oyekanmi, Finance – FY 2024 Reaffirming the Investment Policy and Designation of Investment Authority
Sprague, Fire Dept – Contract $106,000 with ZOLL Medical Corporation for ECG Monitor/Defibrillator Support for emergency Response Vehicles from 7/1/2023-6/30/2025
Sprague, Fire Dept – Contract $62,000 with Stryker Corp, Preventive Maintenance Service from 8/1/2023 – 8/1/2026
Sprague, Fire Dept – Contract $1,600,000 with US Digital Designs for Fire Station Emergency Alerting System from 7/12/2023 – 6/2/2026
Warhuus, HHCS – Amend Contract add $35,000 total $125,000 with Harold Dichoso COVID-19 Outreach and Education and extend to 6/30/2024
Warhuus, HHCS – Fiscal Year 2023 Community Development Block Grant 1. Allocate $680,000 of FY 2023 Federal CDBG funds available to to Insight Housing to rehabilitate IH’s Dwight Way Center
Fong, IT – Amend Contract - Total $1,939,538 with Dell Computer for Computer software and hardware using County Riverside Amendment No. 1 for 11/1/2019 – 10/31/2024
Fong, IT – Amend Contract 10549B add $1,000,000 total $4,705,342.68 with Tyler Technologies Enterprise Resource Planning System for ongoing software licensing, maintenance services and disaster recovery services 4/1/2017 – 6/30/2025
Ferris, Parks – Contract $263,000 includes $50,000 (23.5%) contingency with R.X. Lodge, Inc. for the West Side Aquatic Park Tree Planting and Irrigation Project
Ferris, Parks – Grant Application: USDA Forest Service – Berkeley Urban Forestry Project up to $3,800,000 local in-kind match, up to $500,000 in local cash match
Ferris, Parks – Donation $6,800 Two Memorial Benches at Cesar Chavez Park in memory of Richard & Gloria Crocker
Louis, Police Dept – Contract $200,000 with Citygate for Police Dept Staffing and Workload Study $120,000 for 6/30/2023 – 6/30/2024 with option to extend for 2 additional years for total $200,000
Garland, Public Works – Contracts (3) total $1,200,000 with Cunha Surveying, Inc. (Cunha) $400,000, Kister, Savio & Rei, Inc (KSR) $400,000, MNS Engineers, Inc (MNS) $400,000 for on-call survey services for capital improvement projects and the Engineering Division, for 7/1/2023 – 6/30/2026
Garland, Public Works – Contracts (5) total $1,500,000 for On-Call Geotechnical and Engineering Testing Services, BSK Associates $400,000, Inspection Services, Inc. $400,000, Ninyo & Moore $400,000, Alan Kropp & Associates $150,000, Fisher Geotechnical $150,000.
Garland, Public Works – Contract $12,973,925 includes 20% contingency with Bay Cities Paving & Grading, Inc for Southside Complete Streets Project
Garland, Public Works – Contract $1,625,500 with Downtown Streets for Hand Sweeping, Graffiti and Litter Abatement, Poster Removal and Low Barrier Volunteer Work Experience Program for 8/1/2023 – 8/30/2027
Garland, Public Works – Amend Contract add $835,969 total $2,285,969 with Trip Stop Sidewalk Repair, In for FY 2020 Sidewalk Inspection and Shaving Services
Garland, Public Works – Ground Lease Agreement – RM Ventures LLC d.b.a. in the Wood Grill and Bar for Nonexclusive Use of Elmwood Parking Lot Pedestrian Paseo
Garland, Public Works – SteelWave Donation for $40,000 cash donation for Addison Bike Blvd project and Vision Zero traffic safety improvements in West Berkeley
Garland, Public Works - goBerkeley SmartSpace Pilot Program Evaluation & Next Steps, adopt resolution to maintain SmartSpace
Garland, Public Works – Approve Proposed Projects Anticipate to be paid for by the State’s Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account Funds for FY 2023 – 2024
Garland, Public Works – Extend the Community Workforce Agreement with Building & Construction Trades Council, et al., for Construction Projects over $500,000
Disaster and Fire Safety Commission – Request that City Council Strongly Recommend that HUD-Owned Harriet Tubman Terrace Apartments Install Solar Battery Back-Up Battery Capability to meet the medical needs of their residents during loss of electrical power and consider same action for other HUD properties in Berkeley
Peace and Justice Commission – Establishment of a Sister City Relationship with Las Vegas, Santa Barbara, Honduras
Arreguin – Amend Contract 32000196 add $78,000 total $303,500 with Szabo & Associates for Communications Consulting Services and extend to 6/30/2024
Bartlett, co-sponsors Arreguin, Harrison, Hahn – Berkeley Food Utility and Access Resilience Measure (FARM) – Refer to City Manager the task of protecting the City’s Food Supply from natural disasters and economic disruptions and the Office of Economic Development and adopt the goals of FARM
Bartlett – Street Pavement Painting, relinquishment of Council Office Budget Funds
Bartlett, co-sponsor Ha – Reparations Now Community Art Mural Restoration and Preservation on Ellis next to Malcolm X Elementary School
Wengraf, co-sponsor Hahn – Support for AB-660 Food Labeling (Assemblymember Irwin) Food Labeling quality dates, safety dates and sell by dates
AGENDA on ACTION:
Garland, Public Works - Public Hearing on Zero Waste Five Year Rate Schedule (fee for refuse, compost and recycling collection based on size of garbage container)
Warhuus, HHCS – Biennial Syringe Services Report
Garland, Public Works – Approval and Levy of 2018 Clean Stormwater Fee in FY 2024
Garland, Public Works – Levy and Collection of Street Lighting Assessments
Oyekanmi, Finance – Borrowing of Funds and the Sale and Issuance of FY 2023-2024 Tax and Revenue Anticipation Notes
Bartlett, co-sponsors Arreguin, Harrison, Humbert – Adopt temporary exemption from the collection of taxes under BMC Chapter 9.04.136(D) Tax Rate for Non-Medical and Medical Cannabis Businesses
Friedrichsen, Budget Manager - Voluntary Time Off Program for FY 2024
Friedrichsen, Budget Manager – Status Report – Berkeley’s Financial Condition (FY 2012 – FY 2021): Pension Libilities and Infrastructure Need Attention
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