Remember the parable of the five blind men trying to describe an elephant? Each man touches a different part of the elephant, and then expands his single perception to the whole. The five of them variously describe the elephant as like a snake, a rope, a tree, a wall, and a palm frond. We recognize the trunk, the tail, the leg, the side, and the ear, but the real animal is missing.

At a recent meeting of the Berkeley Neighborhoods Council, five reports were given about housing developments, and the problems encountered in each. In each case, there was a different problem, and it played a different role. These problems represented complications caused by dissonance between developer desires and the neighborhood people affected by the project. While neighborhoods have been clear about the need for low income affordable housing, ignoring such needs, or even pandering to them through the use of legalities create confused approaches. Each problem becomes a kind of roadblock to being responsive to people’s concerns.

And by "problem," I do not mean the background noise from the troll claque that accompanies each proposed project, and chants things like “build build build” (as if supply and demand were operative), or “densification is good for the planet” (as an alternative to what?), or “affordable for whom” (as if that wasn’t known).

The problems these five "cases" revealed, however, were real. -more-

Is it legal for the Federal government to force employees to work without pay? This looks like slavery, which is constitutionally prohibited. Sure, Congress passed a bill requiring workers' reimbursement after the trump shutdown ends, but that payment date is indefinite. Doesn't this also violate labor laws? -more-

AT&T and Comcast have been pushing hard to stop SONIC from expanding its high-speed optical fiber service in Berkeley. First their lobbying organization in Washington, U.S. Telecom, petitioned the FCC to alter the Telecommunications Act of 1997, which maintained competitve rates by required the big boys to share their phone lines with competing service providers. The petition deliberately lied, saying that there is no competition locally, and that ‘no residential customers would be affected’ by the proposed rules change. -more-

NPR reports that in 2017, data collected by the Department of Homeland Security showed the majority of illegal residents in this country did not enter from our Southern border. The Republican-created agency said that two-thirds of known illegal immigrants entered this country legally, then remained after their visas had expired. Only a third of known illegal foreign visitors were apprehended down South. -more-

Mired in lawsuits, President Trump is desperately seeking a diversion which prompted him to launch a fake national security crisis to build his beloved concrete-steel wall. All the major networks have concluded there is no danger at the border and the “wall” is merely a political stunt to fulfill his campaign promise much like his bogus claim that Mexico will pay for the wall. -more-

President Trump is trying his best to convince his supporters that he will fulfill his promise to build the wall to stop the entry of illegal persons to America through the southern border. Who will pay to build this wall? Is this the way to make America great again? -more-

American citizens do not have a mentality that remotely resembles what our ancestors must have had before we entered WWII. People are concerned with football games and whether the remote control needs batteries. People are concerned with how well their stock portfolios are doing. People want to see the latest action-adventure flick or go out to eat at a nice restaurant downtown. We aren’t prepared to have bombs dropped on us, conventional or otherwise. -more-

John Oliver Simon

Most of John Oliver Simon's courage was internal; he believed in himself and he loved life. But he was also a Black Belt in Karate; a skill that may have kept him mindful as he taught poetry in the rambunctious schools of rough Oakland neighborhoods.

One day, as Simon and child were In line at a bank, she said, “Mommy, Mommy.” The man behind him snarled, “Don’t let your child call you ‘Mommy!’”

Simon calmly turned to face the man, and said, “I AM her Mommy.”

We both loved sports and played street basketball together. Even after the divorce, we watched games together. Our system was: basketball at Bar Cesar, Super Bowl at the Wood Tavern, and baseball at Brennan’s. During one game, I cheered for a home run and he yelled at me, "Don’t cheer for that; that’s the Yankees!” I answered, “Derek Jeter.”

As he was dying, his students sent notes of encouragement. One note from a 7 year old boy read “Dear Mr Simon get well soon. Please come back."

At his memorial, many poets read their own poems to him. Robert Haas chose to read Simon’s baseball poem.

A homeowner told me about the plumber who was working on their house. He spotted the books on the table; on top was one of Simon’s poetry books. “Mr. Simon!” shouted the plumber.

“Yes, he was a friend of mine.” answered the homeowner.

“Mr. Simon was my teacher.” Close to tears, the man repeated, “He was my teacher! I was a pachuco in West Oakland. He told me I could write."



Ntozake Shange

Ntozake Shange wrote the poems and she and Paula Moss choreographed them. They performed the poems as a “Choreopoem” and I videotaped them dancing to the poetry for the cable TV station in Hayward, CA. She was a glorious dancer as well as a fabulous poet. As their performances continued, and were seen in New York, she found one of the great literary agents, Timothy Seldes. When Joseph Papp learned of her performance, he arranged an opening night performance at his theatre in Manhattan. For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enuf opened to a full house and fine reviews.

Shameless Hussy Press, which I founded in 1969, was the first to publish her choreopoem in 1976 and we were in touch with agent Timothy Seldes as well as Ntozake. I was thrilled and loved the poems so much that I had printed it myself, on the AB Dick 360 offset press in our garage. When Tim saw the book, he called me. He praised my efforts and said although they would look for a major publisher, I was welcome to sell all copies I’d made. But was I aware that I had misspelled her name on the cover?

Her first name, Ntozake, was indeed misspelled; I had used an “s” rather than a “z”. Correcting it was easy; I just went into the garage and reprinted it.

Many authors would have been angry; called me stupid or refused to speak to me. This gracious young woman waited for the corrected copy, then sent a card, “Thank you for the beginning. love,tz”

As she was achieving success on the New York stage, we printed Sassafrass, the first section of her second book, in l976 and 1977. Copies of these early editions of her books, as well as the precious card, are included in the Archives of Shameless Hussy Press at University of California Santa Cruz Library, Special Collections.

Julia Vinograd

“Hey, look! It’s the Bubble Lady!” Voices of children would announce her arrival as Julia Vinograd brought her poetry to sell on the streets of Berkeley. Children loved the bubbles and would jump and dance, reaching for them. Julia told me, “I’m a naturally disgruntled person. I thought if I could make someone else happy, maybe I would feel better. So I decided to blow bubbles. Children like them.”

Her books were simple, short, and readable, not carried in major bookstores. She sold them on the street and in cafes, “Hey, Alta!” she would shout, "I’ve got a new book!” I often bought one; occasionally bought 2 or 3. She signed them all.

In the ’60’s, Richard Krech organized open poetry readings at Shakespeare and Co Books on Telegraph in Berkeley. Julia was the first woman to step up and read her work. She looked delicate but she was brave. Brave to step up to the mike, brave to say what she said, and brave to wander the streets listening to people who had no one else to talk to.

At the open poetry readings, I was intimidated by the male vibe of Charles Potts, Andy Clausen, John Oliver Simon, Richard Krech and John Thomson. Julia encouraged me to read aloud; soon both of us were reading regularly. There were evenings when she and I were the only women reading our own poems.

She was tireless in encouraging other poets. At her Celebration of Life, a tall blonde said “Julia told me she liked me because I look like Marilyn Monroe but I write like Charles Bukowski.”

A man, explaining that the beloved Buddhist saint Quan Yin is known as “She who hears the cries of the people,” said “Julia was our Quan Yin,”

Julia wrote dozens of books. One was unlike all the others: The Book Of Jerusalem comes from her own heart, rather than telling other people’s stories. “I don’t know where this came from, Alta.”

“It’s called poetry, Julia.”

“Yes, but most of what I write focuses on other people. This just came out.”

“That’s why it’s called the muse. Poets have to be really quiet for that to happen.”

“But where did it COME from?” she would insist, as if I had the answer.

I nominated that book for the American Book Award. It’s tiny; one perfect poem. One board member was dismissive; “Isn’t she that lady that walks Telegraph Avenue selling her books for $3?” I said, “Read the book.”

Luckily, I was not alone; Ishmael Reed said “Good idea. She deserves to be honored."

Julia Vinograd got the American Book Award for The Book Of Jerusalem.

A beloved figure for decades on Telegraph Avenue, Julia was the absolute best at listening to and sharing the stories of those who were usually not heard. The rest of us did care, and sent money to charities and shared food with the homeless, but Julia listened. And she wrote it down. -more-

Iowa Congressman Steve King was recently dumped from all congressional committee assignments by the Republicans in the house after a spate of racist remarks. But this is by no means his first manifestation of undisguised racism.

Way back in 2005, he organized the defeat of a bill by Rep. Barbara Lee to rename the main Berkeley Post Office after former Berkeley Councilmember Maudelle Shirek , by a 215-190 vote in the U.S. House of Representatives .


For details, see Congress Rejects Shirek Post Office Honor By J. DOUGLAS ALLEN-TAYLOR.

At the time, Congresswoman Lee hoped to try again, but it never happened. Is it too late? Berkeleyans almost lost the post office itself not long ago, and it’s still not safe. Perhaps the vigorous Save the Post Office folks could add naming the building after Maudelle to their list of concerns. -more-

Trump’s January 9, oval office address was nothing more than a ho-hum, “same ol’, same ol’” pitch for $5.7 billion for his wall. He again blamed the Democrats for the partial government shutdown. As usual, Trump’s speech was sprinkled with the usual “porkies.” The “growing humanitarian and and security crisis at our Southern border,” if there is one, is one of his own making. -more-

People's needs and rights are often subject to debate. People's wants are usually easier to determine. However, concerning "needs", I believe that the best way to understand them is by using "if, then" statements. -more-

Donald Trump is trying every trick in the book to build his Wall on the southern border. He continues to falsely claim that "Islamic terrorists" and "M-16 gang members" are streaming across the border intent on doing harm to our nation.

But let's pause a moment to ask: What's the worst thing these fictive anti-American "terrorists" could be expected to do?

Attack our homeland and . . . shut down the government?

A Poem for Trump

Donald says he wants a Wall.

I say, "Give him four"—

with a bigly cot

and a chamber pot

and a padlock on the door.

-more-

In 1998, Mark Adamo’s opera Little Women premiered at Houston Grand Opera, where it was commissioned by Houston’s then artistic director David Gockley. Based on American writer Louisa May Alcott’s novel, Adamo’s Little Women is currently being presented in Alameda by Island City Opera. I attended on Sunday, January 20 the second of four performances at Alameda’s Elks Lodge. The remaining performances take place at the same venue on January 25 at 7:30 pm and January 27 at 2:00 pm. -more-

Worth Noting:

Wednesday, January 23 Disaster and Fire Safety Commission agenda includes Evacuation, Alerting and Hills Fire Safety

Saturday, January 26 Assembly District 15 Democratic Party Elections of 14 delegates and one executive board member is 9:45 am – 12:30 pm

https://www.adems.vote/ad15/

January 29 City Council meeting agenda is available for comment

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/City_Council/2019/01_Jan/City_Council__01-29-2019_-_Regular_Meeting_Agenda.aspx

The deadline for Commissions and the community to comment on the Local Hazard Mitigation plan draft (the Plan for preparing for natural disasters and reducing the impacts) is February 28.

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Mitigation/#Download_the_First_Draft_2019_LHMP


Sunday, January 20, 2019

No city meetings or events found

Monday, January 21, 2019 - Martin Luther King Jr Holiday

Tax the Rich Rally, Mon, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm, Rain Cancels Top of Solano in front of the closed Oaks theater (soon to be a climbing gym),

Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Berkeley City Council, Tuesday, 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm, 1231 Addison Street, BUSD Board Room, Consent Agenda: 2. Second reading rezoning 1050 Parker (note requested modification at ZAB Jan 24 plus over 200 parking spaces) 19. SB 18 Keep Californians Housed Act, Action Agenda: 22.& 24 a.&b. Single use disposable food containers, 23. Consider Boycotting Amazon for labor practices and cooperation with ICE, 24 a.&b. Green Stormwater Infrastructure

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/City_Council/2019/01_Jan/City_Council__01-22-2019_-_Regular_Meeting_Agenda.aspx

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Civic Arts Commission, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, 1901 Russell St, Tarea Hall Pittman South Branch Library, Agenda: Final Grants Guidelines, John Toki “s-Hertogenbosch” sculpture relocation, Public Art Display programs, proposed Ohlone Mural plantings and Jean LeMarr stone sculpture

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

Disaster and Fire Safety Commission, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm, 997 Cedar St, Fire Department Training Center, Agenda: Support for Wildfire Evacuation, Emergency Alerting and Public Education, Hazard Mitigation Plan, Access-Functional Needs Considerations for Emergency Evacuation, Hills Fire Safety

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

Energy Commission, 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm, 1947 Center St, Agenda: Electrification Expo Update, Recommendations Fossil Free Subcommittee, Hazard Mitigation Plan, T1 recommendations

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

Loan Administration Board, 9:00 am – 4:50 pm, 2887 College Ave, Anton Salon (Board meeting and first “lab”), Agenda: Board meeting with visits to 8 sites,

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



Police Review Commission, 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm, 2939 Ellis St, South Berkeley Senior Center, Agenda: Lexipol policies including body-worn cameras, Commissioner training, after action reports, crowd control management policies, response to mental health crisis, delivery mental health services

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

Commission on the Status of Women, 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm, 2180 Milvia, NO AGENDA posted, check before going

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

Thursday, January 24, 2019

Community Health Commission, 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm, 2939 Ellis St. South Berkeley Senior Center, Agenda: Presentations: Mitigation Plan, Food Insecurity in Berkeley, Cannabis Equity Fund, Public Health Institute Cannabis Update, Action: Ban on flavored cannabis and tobacco, number of cannabis outlets https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/Commissions/Commissions__Community_Health_Commission_Homepage.aspx

Mental Health Commission, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm, 1947 Center St, Agenda: Hazard Mitigation Plan, Planning for May – Mental Health Month

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

Zoning Adjustments Board, 7:00 pm – 11:30 pm, 1234 Addison, BUSD Board Room http://www.cityofberkeley.info/zoningadjustmentsboard/

2016 Shattuck - add distilled spirits, Lucia’s Pizzeria

2009 Addison – modification to allow vacant dwelling units to be rented to other non-profits, original demolition of existing commercial building and construction of 7-story mixed use with 45 rent-free dwelling units to be occupied exclusively by Berkeley Rep theater professionals

2418 Acton - construct new 2-story single family residence w/attached garage on vacant lot in R-2

1050 Parker – modification to allow previously approved but not yet constructed 60,670 sq ft building w/20,300 sq ft medical office and 40,300 sq ft R&D to be 100% medical offices, 115 auto parking, 46 bicycle spaces on site, 88 auto spaces off-site

Pardee Block Parking Lot (1010, 1014, 1016 Carleton, 2700, 2712, 2714 Tenth, 1001, 1003, 1013 Pardee 43847 sq ft parking lot for 1050 Parker St and existing businesses total 123 parking spaces, 18 bicycle spaces

2628 Shattuck – demolish 2-story care facility building and construct5-story mixed use with 78 dwelling units, and to increase building height and to reduce the required setbacks and residential parking requirement

1444 Fifth St – construct 4 detached 3-story single family dwellings on vacant lot, approx.1900 sq ft each, ave height 33 ft,

Friday, January 25, 2019

No city meetings found

Saturday, January 26, 2019

Assembly District 15 ADEM Elections, 9:45am-12:30pm, Emeryville Center for Community Life (ECCL) gym, 47th Street and San Pablo Ave

The California Democratic Party's Assembly District Election Meetings (ADEMs) are held every 2 years. Each assembly district elects 14 delegates and one executive board member. They join other party members at statewide conventions to vote on candidate, ballot measure, and policy endorsements, and also elect California Democratic Party officers.

There is a Progressive Labor Slate running, led by Wendy Bloom. https://www.adems.vote/ad15/

Wendy Bloom (Executive Board candidate), Andrea Mullarkey, Mabel Lam, Ada Recinos, Kate Harrison, Courtney Welch, Bobbi Lopez, Keane Chukwuneta, Soli Alpert, Alfred Twu, Kacey Carpenter, Sam Davis, Devin Murphy, Xavier Johnson

To vote in this election, you must be a registered Democrat in Assembly District 15. Same-day voter registration will be available at the event

Sunday, January 27, 2019

No city meetings or events found



_____________________





The meeting list is also posted on the Sustainable Berkeley Coalition website.

http://www.sustainableberkeleycoalition.com/whats-ahead.html



When notices of meetings are found that are posted after Friday 5:00 pm they are added to the website schedule https://www.sustainableberkeleycoalition.com/whats-ahead.html and preceded by LATE ENTRY -more-