The announced topic of the big March 15 community meeting at the Berkeley Adult School was the suitability of housing at the North Berkeley BART station. That’s a long term issue. But anyone who cares about democratic planning process has to be alarmed right now by two bills that are advancing in the California Legislature, SB 827 and AB 2923. As Mayor Arreguín explained at the meeting, if SB 827 passes, Berkeley’s say in zoning—heights, density, parking—within a half-mile of the station will be severely diminished. If AB 2923 passes, that say will be eliminated altogether. -more-

In the 1980s, when we were toiling in the high-tech vineyards as an unfunded mom-and-pop startup, this quip was making the rounds:

If you look around the table and don’t know who the sucker is, it’s you.

Turns out this maxim originated with poker sharks, but it works for tech too.

In the dustup around Cambridge Analytica, Dr. Alexandr Borisovich Kogan, Facebook and Facebook users, it’s hard to figure out exactly who’s the sucker.

Let’s work our way back to figure it out. -more-

Mr. Martinot in his article Housing as a Human Right states that housing is a human right and "homeless people in the US makes this country a mass violator of human rights.” Unfortunately, the United States, though a signatory to several international human rights conventions, has not ratified any convention that would make the right to adequate housing enforceable; and the United States does not explicitly recognize a right to adequate housing in its Constitution or in federal law. -more-

For many years I thought that the Robin Hood Syndrome (taking from the rich to give to the poor) was a no- brainer. It wouldn’t make sense to steal from the poor to give to the rich, would it? The wealthy have the resources and the money, so who would waste their time robbing people who have little to give to the rich who have more than they need? Seems logical, right? Boy, was I naïve! It seems that the practice of the rich taking from the poor has been the norm worldwide, throughout history, cutting across most cultures, governments, and religions. Robin Hood’s crime of taking from the rich was actually compounded because he came from the aristocracy, was actually championing poor people, and was breaking the good old boy tradition of getting all you can get. If people have nothing to take, put them in debt or bondage. That was the way then, and too often it’s still that way now! -more-

The fifteenth anniversary of the disastrous invasion of Iraq has just passed. None of the architects of the war have been held responsible. -more-

Berkeley has an opportunity. As more and more communities try to accommodate the need for decriminalization and safe access to marijuana, they face decisions regarding how to respect all citizens' right to clean, breathable air and the special hazards marijuana poses for underage populations. -more-

1. Never, ever blame the poor for being in poverty. They are not responsible for their genetic deficiencies. -more-

Until Robert Mueller publishes the results of his investigation into Russian intrusion in the 2016 election, David Corn and Michael Isikoff's new book, "Russian Roulette," will be the preeminent source for information about what happened; what did Russia do and why did they do it. There are four takeaways from this well-researched and disturbing book. -more-

During the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump said he would consider bringing back waterboarding “and a hell of a lot worse.” President Trump has nominated Gina Haspel to be Director of the CIA. Previously, he appointed her as Deputy Director. With Bloody Gina as CIA Director, if confirmed, he will have just the leader for the job. -more-

This week's column is a temporary departure from discussing psychiatric disorders, and instead, I am speaking of people's minds in general. Next week, I will probably be back to my normal discussion of we who are considered "abnormal." -more-

Sign on the Dotard Line

After scrawling his signature on the $1.3 trillion federal budget bill, Donald Trump announced: "I'll never sign a bill like this again!"

Well, he probably won't if Robert Mueller has anything to say about it.

Legislative Acronyms in a Time of Trump

MoveOn.org is promoting legislation to require publication of White House visitor logs (something that was done regularly by the Obama administration but was ended by Trump). The law would also mandate release of visitor logs at other locations where Trump conducts business—for example, at Mar-a-Lago, Trump's Florida resort. The law was titled the "Making Access Records Available to Lead American Government Openness Act."

Not coincidentally, the acronym is . . . the MAR-A-LAGO Act.
-more-

As part of the Schwabacher Recital Series, soprano Toni Marie Palmertree gave a recital Wednesday evening, March 21, at Taube Atrium Theatre in the Diane B. Wilsey Center for Opera. This event was under the aegis of San Francisco Opera Center and Merola Opera Program. Accompanying Ms Palmertree on piano was Mark Morash, and clarinetist Jose Gonzalez Granero joined them for several pieces. -more-

April 3 City Council meeting agenda is available for comment. emails sent early have the best chance of being read. 10. Land Trust Small Sites, 12. Allow private parking vendors to charge adjustable rates, 14. Prohibiting City Contracts to Vendors Acting as Data Brokers, 15. LPC Appeal: 2516-30 Shattuck Ave – University Laundry Building, 16. Balloting Stormwater Fee, 18a.&b. Supplemental Paid Family Leave, 19. Change Council procedure rules on consent items, 20. LPC-NOD Structural Alteration 2740-2744 Telegraph email: council@cityofberkeley.info -more-