In evaluating this report on Berkeley Police racial profiling, we have examined in Part 1 some of the failures of inclusion in the data that would have produced a clearer picture, and in Part 2, some of the implications of the actual racial disparities in the practices of the BPD. Not only were those disparities gross, but they raised certain questions about the “recognition factors” with respect to drivers that the police use which have resulted, whether intentionally or not, in significant differences in which racial groups get attention in traffic stops. Part 1 is to be found here . Part 2 is to be found here.

******

On black people being singled out

There is another statistic given in the report that suggests a different view of race itself, and in which this “recognition factor” lurks.

The CPE report has been successful in providing evidence that there is significant racial bias and inequity in police practices and behavior. The equality of stops across three populations of vastly different sizes (approximately 13,500 of each) testifies to a huge disparaty in police practices. If, as the CPE researchers say, Berkeley PD has a much better record than most other cities they have studied, it implies that those other cities must have fallen on truly apartheid conditions. The problem that emerges in terms of this "equality" of three groups of traffic stops is how the police are able to pick out black people for traffic stops at a rate far beyond the black fraction of the population. We have concluded that there is a search involved, but it must also be associated with a focused recognition factor. -more-

At least one person was injured following a shooting in Berkeley early this morning, according to police. -more-

Well, the political season has started in earnest now. An outraged citizen just forwarded to me a letter signed only “Buffy”. Here’s how it starts:

“I’m incredibly proud to announce my endorsement of R*** K***for Berkeley’s City Council District 1. R** brings exactly the kind of progressive and practical leadership we need on City Council.”

Say what? Who’s this we, White Woman?

The fair Buffy is the very exemplar of chutzpah: a recent buyer of a $2 million house in Oakland’s Rockridge daring to tell us strong-minded Berkeleyans what “we need” on our own city council.

As the lynch-pin of the Stop Bernie campaign in the 2016 California Democratic primary, she has some nerve(and I say that as one of the minority of Berkeleyans who did vote for Clinton.)

We don’t do things that way around here.

Just this week, most of the several credible candidates for the AD15 State Legislature seat that Buffy's been trying to buy her way into announced their support for her opponent, Richmond Councilmember Jovanka Beckles: -more-

Berkeley Police Officers Threaten to Resign and Disband SWAT Unit If Council Doesn't Allow Participation in Urban Shield

-more-

Where's my Berkeley cop? The majority of the Subcommittee on NCRIC and Urban Shield has gone to great lengths to craft a report and recommendation that respects the officers of the Berkeley Police Department. Contrary to some accounts, the subcommittee has charted a course that takes very seriously the training needs of the department, including the need to participate in Urban Shield tactical scenario training. Berkeley police officers must now defer to City Council's role in the political reform of Urban Shield. -more-

The President of the United States capitulated beside the Russian president when asked what he said to Putin about Russian interference in our elections. Trump said he believed Putin's denials and blathered irrelevantly on and on about Hillary's email server. He dismissed the deep and detailed evidence compiled by our security agencies - NSA, CIA, FBI - and by the Special Council's investigation, calling them "witch hunts," deferring instead to Putin. -more-

The sham that Israel is a democracy has once again been exposed with the announcement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel that “his” country’s existence as the “nation-state of the Jewish people.” -more-

Former art museum to be turned into scientific research hub

"The Woo Hon Fai Hall building, previously home to the Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive, or BAMPFA" (2626 Bancroft Way), "is a city landmark that will be part of a new research center called the BioEnginuity Hub."

......"While the final designs for the building are in development, 40,000 square feet of wet laboratory -- where experiments involving highly dangerous substances can take place -- and office spaces will be available by the time of completion...."

8-story, 122-unit housing complex planned for Bancroft Way (2580 Bancroft Way)

"The planned development, which will be named 'The Standard', will replace several local businesses and will target students who wish to live near campus."

UC wins management contract for Los Alamos laboratory

"The Management and operating contract for Los Alamos National Laboratory was awarded to the UC Board of Regents, the Battelle Memorial Institute and the Texas A&M University Systen last month by the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration......"The UC will take a leading role in the management partnership among the three institutions, which will operate as Triad National Security, LLC or Triad, according to UC President Janet Napolitano"....We have been involved in the management of Los Alamos for 75 years and I am pleased to say that we will continue that involvement," Napolitano said at the Wednesday regents meeting." -more-

Will the Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade? Of course the job of the prophet is far more difficult than the job of the historian. So until that decision is made it seems that the majority vote could go either way. For those who support the right of women to have abortions, there are reasons to be both hopeful and worried. Consider the 1973 Supreme Court decision, when the justices approved the right to abortion. Surprisingly, among the seven out of nine justices that voted in favor of abortion, five were Republican appointed justices. Moreover, four of these five justices were conservatives! They did so despite the strong opposition of the Catholic Church. -more-

Most Americans were outraged by Donald Trump's performance at his July 16 press conference with Vladimir Putin. Trump's collaboration with Russia is the latest evidence that he's determined to ruin the United States of America. Why don't congressional Republicans stand up to him? Do they hate America, too?

After 545 days in the White House, Trump is emboldened to say and do, and Tweet, whatever he feels like. There's no evidence that anyone can restrain him -- certainly not his daughter, Ivanka, or his beleaguered Chief-of-Staff, John Kelley.

There's a plethora of arm-chair psychoanalysts with opinions about why Trump behaves like he does. However, we've travelled miles beyond the point of trying to understand why Trump acts out; whether it's because he is crazy or a Russian collaborator or obsessed with becoming the anti-Obama. What's most important is that Trump endangers the United States of America.

If the American people are going to stop him, we're going to need the assistance of Republicans. Are they going to help us or are they going to pretend that Trump's behavior is okay? When will Republican members of Congress stand up to Trump? -more-

It is easy for someone with psychotic tendencies to be paranoid about their computer, because cyber-spying does sometimes exist, and because it is compelling to imagine someone spying on us. Years ago, I've met someone with mental illness whose paranoia was made worse by her computer. At the time, I was offering computer assistance in the homes of customers, as my small business. -more-

By constantly belittling our European allies, recently undermining British Prime Minister Theresa May, threatening trade wars with them, Canada and China, undercutting NATO, failure to honor international agreements, Trump’s “America First” foreign policy is becoming an “America Alone” policy. -more-

Mozart wrote Il Re Pastore/The Shepherd King in 1775, shortly after Lucio Silla (1773) and La Finta Giardiniera (1775). Set to a late libretto by the famed Metastasio, Il Re Pastore is officially an opera seria, though Mozart termed it a drama per musica. However, it is so full of the 19 year-old Mozart’s wit and ebullience that it hardly sounds, or plays, like an opera seria. This is especially true in the lively, highly diverting production of Il Re Pastore given by the company of young musicians of Merola Opera, who opened this show on Thursday evening, July 19, at San Francisco Conservatory of Music. A second performance of this opera is set for 2:00 pm Saturday, July 21, at the same venue. -more-

Worth Noting:

City Council is scheduled for two days of public meetings/hearings before taking off for summer recess on Wednesday, July 25. Monday is Agreements with other Law Enforcement Agencies or Private Security Organizations, NCRIC (Northern California Regional Intelligence Center) and Urban Shield. Meeting starts at 4:00 pm at City Hall, Tuesday the regular Council meeting starts at 6:00 pm and promises to end late. Bring rations (food and water)

Wednesday – Body Worn Cameras are on the Police Review Commission agenda. The body worn cameras were purchased months ago and still not implemented – this might be interesting.

Election campaigns are heating up, while city meetings are slowing down. If you are not involved in the local campaigns, look to helping in one of the vulnerable Republican Congressional Districts. You can connect through:

Indivisible Berkeley https://www.indivisibleberkeley.org/

Indivisible East Bay https://indivisibleeb.org/

Wellston Democratic Renewal Club http://wellstoneclub.org/



Sunday, July 22, 2018

Campaign Kickoffs, Local and State Ballot Measures, Meeting open to all, BTU/BPA/BCA, Sun, July 22, 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm, 1939 Addison, East Bay Media Center,

Monday, July 23, 2018

Berkeley City Council, Mon, July 23, 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm, 2134 MLK Jr Way, City Council Chambers, Agenda: 1. Approval agreements with other Law Enforcement Agencies, 2. a. Adopt Subcommittee recommendations on NCRIC and Urban Shield (Arreguin, Harrison, Davila), 2 b. Urban Shield – continue 2018 and work with Alameda Co. Supervisors to reconstitute focus 2019 (Wengraf).

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/City_Council/2018/07_Jul/City_Council__07-23-2018_Special_Meeting_Agenda.aspx

Children, Youth and Recreation Commission – Special Meeting, Mon, July 23, 7:00 pm, 2800 Park St, Frances Albrier Community Center at San Pablo Park, Agenda: 2020 Vision Supplemental Questions for Community Agency Grant RFP

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Children_Youth_and_Recreation_Commission/

Civic Arts Commission – Arts Education Subcommittee, Mon, July 23, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm, 2180 Milvia, Cypress Room 1^st Floor, Agenda: education work plan

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

Homeless Commission – Site Visit Subcommittee, 6:30 pm, 2000 University, Au Coquelet

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

Zero Waste Commission, Mon, July 23, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm, 1901 Hearst Ave, North Berkeley Senior Center, Agenda: Single Use Foodware and Litter Reduction, plastics #1-#7 recycling,

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

Tax the Rich rally – CANCELLED - please attend 4:00 pm Urban Shield NCRIC meeting, Mon, July 23, at City Hall -more-