After months exchanging “love letters,” President Trump and North Korea’s, Kim Jong-un finally met holding hands at the DMZ. It was a sight to behold. -more-

There is no law in the City of Berkeley. That is the only conclusion possible when government violates the law with impunity. It means there is no law.

We’re talking about the law of the land. Not the ordinances that the City Council passes to make itself look important, or to allow the police to violate the law by enforcing those ordinances. We’re talking about the law of the land and its protections.

The "law of the land" is the basic law from which all else gets its authority, namely, the US Constitution, the Constitution of the state of California, and the Berkeley City Charter. When a city council or its agencies involve themselves in avoiding, evading, sidetracking, circumventing, eluding, finding loopholes in, and countermanding the law, then for the people of that city, there is no law. If the people have access to a society organized around law only through those councils and agencies, then the people are out of luck.

Two crises beset this city, a crisis of homelessness, and an affordable housing crisis. The first is a crisis foisted by economic processes. The second crisis results from an absence of political will (and it will require a separate article). -more-

The New York Times has published yet another article pushing housing affordability, this time a front page attack on single-family zoning: “Housing Scarce, Cities Erase Single-Family Lots.”

There is a rich irony in the flagship newspaper of New York City, the densest city in the United States and also one of the most expensive to live in, relentllessly flogging the notion—as news, no less--that density create affordability. San Francisco, also expensive, is the second densest.

So facts don't really matter, but no, I’m not going to use the "fake news” expression. But I might suggest, as your paper does with the nominal president, that you fact check the building lobby promoter-in-chief California Senator Scott Wiener. His quote in the article: “Single-family zoning 'means that everything else is banned….Low-income housing, which is only multi-unit-banned…’ ” is false. -more-

At the recent G20 meeting, President Trump greeted his friend, Vladimir Putin, warmly with the full knowledge that he got him elected.

The president brushed off accusations of election interference with a wink and smile, a coded gesture inviting more interference targeting his Democratic opponent in the 2020 election. The wily Putin chuckled with a silent nod hinting Russian trolls were ready to further eviscerate American democracy and propel the President to the White House for four more years. The public outrage over Trump’s chumminess with Russia harked back serious concerns over his financial entanglement and possible sexual encounters with Russian prostitutes. Putin seemed delighted with his meeting with Trump, a willing partner to undermine America’s democracy. -more-

As a T-V reality star, Donald Trump has always loved pageantry. He was inspired by a Bastille Day celebration in Paris that he attended in 2017, or perhaps his friend “Vlad” might have told him about the glorious Russian Revolution with Soviet tanks rolling past a portrait of Vladimir Lenin in Moscow’s Red Square in a 1980 parade. The pageantry will be a much needed distraction from his personal misfortunes as a failed businessman (lost over 1B over a 10 year period). The House Judiciary Committee has issued subpoenas to demand the release of his tax returns to reveal possible financial entanglements with Russian oligarchs.

How the draft dodger loves military parades. -more-

Activists and working people in Berkeley should be proud of their achievement of winning a minimum wage of $15 an hour and an annual increase according to the Consumer the Consumer Price Index. As of July of this month, the minimum wage has been increased from $15 to $15.59 cents an hour. The minimum wage will be adjusted every July 1. -more-

It is important for us to pay more attention to the political climate today. We are seeing changes that are destroying the fundamental values of democracy. We have not made any progress in improving the lives of citizens of the neither the middle class, nor low income and poor amongst us.

Our self-centered thinking has taken us back at least 60 years .

We have not yet learned that each one of us has the right to participate in the political process to elect the right person to represent us in our government. -more-

Editor's Note: The latest issue of the Pepper Spray Times is now available.

You can view it absolutely free of charge by clicking here . You can print it out to give to your friends.

Grace Underpressure has been producing it for many years now, even before the Berkeley Daily Planet started distributing it, most of the time without being paid, and now we'd like you to show your appreciation by using the button below to send her money.

This is a Very Good Deal. Go for it! -more-

Since the June 26-27 Democratic Presidential debates, the candidate rankings have shifted and it now appears the Democratic nomination is up for grabs. The winner will be determined by voters perception of which candidate is most electable.

A June Gallupreport (https://news.gallup.com/poll/259454/electability-democratic-nominee-outranks-issue-stances.aspx) found that "58% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents prioritize a candidate's ability to beat Trump over their views on important issues." (This finding held across all demographic groups except for younger voters -- aged 18 to 29.) Gallup concluded: "The diverse field of Democratic presidential candidates would be well-advised to focus their debate performances and campaign strategies on looking like they can beat Trumpinstead of worrying about highlighting their issues positions." [Emphasis added]

What does it mean to "[look] like they can beat Trump"? Depending upon the Democratic voter, being electable means that their candidate adopts a particular stance/attitude. During the debates we saw four different approaches. -more-

On the 243 anniversary of the birth of our nation, Trump finally got his military parade with tanks and a military flyovers and lots of protests. He gave a presidential address on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

We celebrate American Independence Day on the Fourth of July every year. We think of July 4, 1776, as a day that represents the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the United States of America as an independent nation. It should not have been used as a political rally by Trump. -more-

In my twenties and early thirties, I struggled to have and maintain conventional employment and self-employment. I was not happy with the prospect of living on SSDI and SSI. I wanted more than that for myself. I was forced by circumstances to accept SSDI and SSI at age twenty-five. At the time, I hadn't yet given up the battle. I continued to try self-employment and a number of jobs. However, finally I settled in, realizing that the psychiatric condition, the medication, and numerous other factors made me significantly impaired concerning work.

When I did have jobs, weekend work was the easiest to maintain. I found that if I had four or five days in a row off, it was far easier to go back to work for two to three days. And this may be particular to me. Others' needs could be totally different. I continue to have basic responsibilities, which at times, are stressful. In some instances, things are hard enough that I get symptomatic, even while I take a lot of medication. Consequently, it matters that I sometimes get some down time, in which nothing or next to nothing is expected. -more-

Sat., July 6, John Hinkle Amphitheatre, Berkeley 1:30 pm music, 2:00 pm show

Sun., July 7 John Hinkle Amphitheatre, Berkeley 1:30 pm music, 2:00 pm show

The San Francisco Mime Troupe (SFMT) celebrates their 60^th Anniversary of doing FREE Political Theater in the East Bay with TREASURE ISLAND, A New Musical - A Toxic Tale of Corporate Corsairs, Swashbuckling Swindlers, and Big Buck Buccaneers on San Francisco Bay!

Treasure Island - is it the freezing cold, artificial island in the middle of San Francisco Bay awaiting cut-throat developers? Or is it the mythical isle where untold wealth awaits marauding pirates, or both?

That’s the question for city planner Jill Hawkins when an old sea-dog of a developer drops anchor in her office at City Hall, and drops a mystery in her lap. “Developers...they scour the map looking for cities with fat purses, ready to be plundered, damn the regulations!”

But if Treasure Island is such a wonderful opportunity why has no one developed it yet…? What about the people who live there now? And who is the one-legged developer Hawkins was warned about?

The lyrics for TREASURE ISLAND are written by Daniel Savio. Daniel is the son of famed 60s activist Mario Savio - a leader of the Free Speech Movement at Berkeley in the 1960s. -more-

Worth Noting and Showing Up:

The City Council Agenda for July 9 is very heavy so you can expect one or two items to be continued to July 16. It is just not guaranteed what will be continued. The last scheduled City Council meeting before the Council summer recess is July 23. There are no reports in the July 23 packet for the Agenda Committee for 22 items despite reference to the missing reports for information.

The July 16 City Council Agenda is available for comment and follows the list of weekly meetings.

Berkeley is sponsoring a protest to the treatment of children at detention centers at 12 noon at Civic Center Park. If you bring signs make them without sticks.



Sunday, July 7, 2019

John Lee Invitational Co-Rec Softball Tournament, 8 am – 9 pm

San Pablo Sports Fields - https://www.cityofberkeley.info/CalendarEventMain.aspx?calendarEventID=15735

Grove Park https://www.cityofberkeley.info/CalendarEventMain.aspx?calendarEventID=15737

Monday, July 8, 2019

City Council Health, Life Enrichment, Equity & Community Committee, 10 am, at 2180 Milvia, 6^th Floor Redwood Conf Room, Agenda: 2. Expansion of Air Quality Monitoring Program to multiple sites, 3. Ban Racial, Ethnic, Cultural and Religious Discrimination on the Basis of Hairstyle or Headwear, 4.a.&b. Recommendations Related to Leonard Powell, fact-finding, policy changes, code enforcement, housing stability, justice, 5. Pilot Cannabis Event at Cesar Chavez Park

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/Home/Policy_Committee__Health,_Life_Enrichment,_Equity___Community.aspx

Agenda and Rules Committee, 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm, 2180 Milvia, 6^th Floor Redwood Conf Room, Agenda: 2. Finalize Agenda for July 23 City Council meeting, No Reports for items 1,4,5,6,7,8,9,13,14,15,26,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,26,28,29,30, CONSENT: 1. Expand control of flavored tobacco, 4. Affordable Housing - Use a portion of tax-exempt bonds for reimbursement of expenditures for the projects – expected obligation $175 million, 5. Animal Care Mutual Aid in Disasters, 6. RFP, 7. Amend contract with Resource Development Assoc (RDA) total $54,500 to build database for Mental Health Division Homeless Outreach and Treatment Team (HOTT),8. Amend 7 contracts increasing total to $2,162,700 thru June 30, 2020 for Mental Health Services Act Community Services, Supports, Prevention and Early Intervention, 9. Mental Health Services Act Annual Update, 10. Amend contract with Merritt Hawkins adding $100,000 (total $149,990) for recruitment of psychiatrist, 11. 5 yr contract for $1,363,735 with AMCS for Zero Waste Management Software System, 12. 5 yr contract for $487,249 with Assetworks for a Fleet Management Software 13. Add $42,216 (total $76,811) to Communication Strategies contract for developing requirements and needs assessment for Voice over IP support and maintenance, 14. Special use permit with US Forest Service for Tuolumne Camp, 15. $365,000 contract with Left Coast Land Clearing for hazard mitigation Tuolumne Camp, 16. $450,000 contract with Poston Logging, LLC for Tuolumne Camp Tree Hazard Mitigation, 17. Contract for $468,706 and $70,000 Contingency (total $538,706) with McNabb Construction, Inc for George Florence Park Playground Renovation – 2121 Tenth St, 18. Authorize modification of Measure T1 Phase 1 project list removing King School Park Bioswale project and adding 13 priority sites identified by Green Infrastructure plan (6/18/19) and Public Works Commission, 19. Add $50,000 and extend contract to 6/30/21 with Restoration Management Co. for on-call remediation and restoration services, 20. 3 yr contract $450,000 with Stockton Tri Industries for Front Loading and Rear Loading Container Purchase, 21. Add $150,000 (total $650,000) to contract with Fehr & Peers for on-call transportation planning services, 22. Increase amended contract by $31,161 (total $351,317 plus $6,000 contingency) with W.A. Rose Construction for exterior Stucco Demolition Work at the Central Library, 23. Defendant’s Side Agreement to facilitate Consent Decree Compliance, 24. Support AB 1279 – housing development, ACTION: 25. Amendments to BMC Chapter 2.12 public campaign financing program, 26. Substantial Amendments to Annual Action Plans for Use of Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) Funds allocating maximum allowable amount towards shelter and street outreach and away from rapid rehousing, 28. Voting Delegates – League of CA Cities Annual Conference, 29. Funding for Street Rehab Capital Improvement, 30. Preferential Parking (RPP) Update, 31. 2-week RV Permitting Process – allows one time/year 2-week permit, 32. Prioritize street light replacement and street improvements by high-collision street first, 33. Ronald V. Dellums Fair Chance Access to Housing and Public Health and Safety Ordinance, 34. Transfer $550,000 to Rent Board to amend contracts with Eviction Dense Center and East Bay Law Center and anti-displacement services for low and moderate-income Berkeley residents, 35. ID Locations for Managed Safe RV Parking on City-Owned Land, Development of 3-month “Grace Period” Permit Program, and request that State Lands Commission Permit Temporary Safe Parking Site at Berkeley Waterfront, 36. Designate Ohlone Greenway and West Street Bike Path as linear City Parks, INFORMATION REPORTS: 37. City Council Short Term Referral Process Monthly Update, 38. T1 update, 39. Audity Status PRW on-call Program, 43. 2020 Public Art Plan, 44. Report Buyout Offers and Agreements, 45. Zero Waste Commission Work Plan, 46. Amended Audit Plan, To follow July 23 agenda review 8. Discussion and Direction Regarding Revision to the City Council Rules of Procedure and Order, 9. Review of Scope of Work to Develop a Performance Evaluation of the City Manager, -more-