The passing of Henry Kissinger at the age of 100 marks the end of an era, provoking a divided remembrance of a man whose legacy is a collision of adulation and condemnation. To the Washington establishment, Kissinger stands as an influential diplomat shaping U.S. foreign policy. However, beyond American borders, particularly in countries like Chile, East Timor, Bangladesh, and Cambodia, his actions are indelibly tied to allegations of war crimes, instigating coups, and genocide. -more-

Oakland's City Council passed a cease-fire resolution on November 27, that shamefully omitted critical facts.

Shame, for Shame that the Oakland City Council rebuked Israel's bombing of Gaza, but didn't mention Hamas' murder of 1200 Israelis and kidnapping of 240 hostages. -more-

Dear Mayor and City Council:

Please… take action. Other cities, churches. Jewish organizations, and county organizations have sent proclamations and pleas for a bilateral and permanent Ceasefire between Israeli Defense Forces and Hamas.

I have friends living in Israel, and Palestinian American friends air lifted out of Gaza. I returned to my college town because we are a city with values that include compassion for our neighbors, local and global. -more-

Recent letters to the Planet expressing disapproval of the City's campaign to remake the streets—timely and pertinent as they are—omit a fact that serves to sharpen the points they make: Berkeley's notably poor financial condition and how it affects the city today. -more-

A couple of recent reader commentaries assume that all the recent changes in Berkeley’s streets were done for the sake of bicycles, but they are sadly misinformed. -more-

Dear Mayor and City Council,

Please, let's pave Hopkins and stop playing politics.

The money is there if you want it to be. -more-

I have not followed the career of Rosalynn Carter, yet somehow her passing, and seeing photos on the internet of her and Jimmy Carter, made my eyes watery. It brings to mind my shortcomings in life, including physical separation from my spouse of twenty-eight years. -more-

Bicycle safety appears to be the stated purpose for the numerous street changes in many Bay Area cities:

• · streets with green lanes
• · cement dividers beyond normal curbsbb
• · odd-shaped islands at intersections
• · parking spaces in traffic lanes
• · restaurant seating in parking spaces (parklets)
• · outright elimination of parking in general
• · increased unnecessary street barriers and one-way streets

The consequences of these remodeled streets are numerous, some of which have been seen in nearby cities as well. -more-

I live in Oakland and drive through Berkeley a lot. I take Martin Luther King on my way back to go to Fat Apple's restaurant. Now MLK is being turned into an obstacle course like other streets in Berkeley and Oakland.

It doesn't make sense. Look at Milvia Street from University Avenue to Haste. I used to get supplies at Ace Hardware when I was in that area but don't any more because Milvia is one way and hard to use. Most of the time there is nowhere to park. So where are all the bikes? There are hardly any.

In Oakland the City acts like the only thing they care about is bicycles but the number of bikes is tiny compared to people driving. You hardly see bikes on big green stripes on 40th Street and Park Blvd. Wide bike lanes on West and Market Street are mostly empty, but how we drive is being controlled by the idea of bicycles. -more-

Think about it!

I find that our democracy risks falling apart due to the greediness of our so called representatives, who just want to grab power to create a disturbance in our social and political structure.

It is very important for us to make our democracy strong. It can only happen when citizens understand the meaning of democracy.They need to vote in our represented democracy in every local state and primary election. Let no representative take away their power to vote or voice their opinions regarding the policies which impact them.

In my view, everyone should follow the rule of law. Constitution clauses must be applied equally to all citizens. Money power should not be able to buy governing power. We, the voters, must have more power in our hands than members of congress or senate.

The three branches of government (Congress, Judiciary and Executive) must work together to create a better society. -more-

Russian-born pianist Daniil Trifonov exhibits what can only be called wizardry, for no matter what music he plays, Trifonov turns it to gold. I have heard Trifonov play Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Bach, Rameau, Mozart, Mendelssohn, and Beethoven, to name only a few composers he has performed here. And Daniil Trifonov’s wizardry has turned everything to gold. The sole exception was the banal, uninspired Piano Concerto by Mason Bates, which was written for Trifonov, who did his best in an attempt, ultimately a failed attempt, to persuade us of this work’s merits at its premiere with San Francisco Symphony in 2022. -more-

In the program notes for San Francisco Opera’s current production of Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore (aka The Elixer of Love), Director Daniel Slater states that “Designer Robert Innes Hopkins and Iwanted to pull the story out of its nineteenth-century rustic roots and find the perfect period in which to replant it.” What they chose was the 1950s Italy of Felliniesque “Dolce Vita,” so they set their production of The Elixer of Love at a beachside hotel terrace on the Italian Riviera. In place of the original village of rustic farmers, Slater and Innes Hopkins populated the onstage chorus with a variety of characters — tourists, hotel staff, locals, and Vespa-riding military men. Adina is proprietress of the aptly-named Hotel Adina, and shy, vulnerable Nemorino is a waiter who is hopelessly in love with his glamorous and seemingly unobtainable boss. -more-

Happy holidays! Here are my choices for 2023’s best novels. (In alphabetical order.) Bear in mind that, as a mystery writer, I typically read mysteries and thrillers. -more-

Worth Noting:

There are only three (November 28, December 5, 12) more scheduled City Council meetings before Winter Recess - December 13, 2023 – January 15, 2024. At the bottom of the posting is the draft agenda for December 12 and the full agendas for November 28 and December 5. The Budget meeting on the AAO#1 (Annual Appropriations Ordinance aka mid-year budget adjustment) is tentatively scheduled for December 5 and is not posted.

• Monday:
  • At 11 am the Civic Arts Commission Grants Subcommittee meets online.
  • At 2:30 the Agenda Committee meets in the Hybrid format on the Dec 12 city council draft agenda which includes 27-North Berkeley BART Objective Standards, 30-Horse Racing, 32-Eminent domain for 2902, 3908 Adeline and 1946 Russell and the Chess Club.
• Tuesday:
  • At 6 pm the City Council meets in the hybrid format item 17 is the 5-year paving plan.
  • At 6 pm the Zero Waste Commission meets in person.
  • From 6 – 7 pm community meeting on grant application for outdoor program grant

• Wednesday: At 6 pm the Environment and Climate Commission meets in person.
• Thursday:
  • At 7 pm the Zoning Adjustment Board meets in the hybrid format – the zoom link shows as being expired check for an update,
  • The Landmarks Preservation Commission is posted as meeting, but no agenda is posted. Check after Monday.
• Saturday: From 10 am – 1 pm is the Tots Carnival for ages 0-5 at Live Oak Park.

The December 5 city council agenda is available for comment and includes $900,000 on street calming budget referral and report on reimaging public safety.

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 -more-