Once upon a time, our local and state government agencies would be the ones who proposed public works projects based on their own assessments of need and the comments, suggestions, and data received from the general public, business interests, and other stakeholders. Those projects would be conceptualized and reviewed publicly, vetted by various impacted agencies, designed with public input, and their costs would be estimated before moving forward. If general funds were insufficient to undertake the project and public financing was required, government agencies would make that determination and propose how to close the gap.

At the local level, this generally remains the case. But in the San Francisco Bay Area, we now have a new form of government, run by and for unelected, private corporate interests. They call themselves “stakeholders” but, more and more, operate under the banner of “regional government.” This new iteration on tax and spend government is a for-profit version of regional planning, at the taxpayer’s expense.

We should note that regional government is a term without a legal definition. It does not exist anywhere in state law. But this hasn’t deterred regional government advocates from assuming it does.

Under this new quasi-regional governmental system, heavily promoted by unelected state agencies like the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), instead of plan first and figure out how to fund it, the new method is to raise funds first and ask questions later.

This new system has brought us things like Plan Bay Area 2050. And since this new way of doing business has no real accountability to voters, it basically eliminates the problem of cost overruns because the whole thing is, essentially, a cost overrun. -more-

Following in the footsteps of the US, the cancer of intolerance has engulfed much of India. The new “howdy” Modi is rapidly becoming “adios” Modi as India’s prime minister attempts to stifle growing outrage over the anti-Muslim Citizenship bill.

Protests have erupted across India in response to the Indian Parliament’s decision to give favored treatment to Hindu and other non-Muslim migrants in India. Like most autocrats, Modi has suspended access to the Internet for 60 million people fearful that social media may amplify the outrage. Last year the internet was shutdown 134 times, and this year 93 times removing a bastion of democracy, free speech. Much like “President Nixon’s enemy list” Modi has crafted an enemy list of dissidents including prominent reporters. A climate of fear has gripped India and the iron boots of India’s police and paramilitary has been unleashed on protestors. -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-

Even though we're 5000 miles away from London, the results of the December 12th British election sent a chill through left-coast voters. The ascension of Boris Johnson was painfully reminiscent of the 2016 election of Donald Trump; further evidence that we have entered the buffoon era of geo-politics. There are two political lessons to learn from the British tragedy.

Two Unpopular Candidates: The British General Election was an awkward "popularity" contest between Boris Johnson, leader of the Conservative Party, and Jeremy Corbyn, leader of Labour -- the British press characterized it as the "ugly baby contest." -more-

On December 18, 2019, President Donald J. Trump was impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives. This is only the third time in history that a president has been impeached and the first time for a first-term president. Both Bill Clinton and Andrew Johnson were impeached but the Senate failed to remove them from office. Richard Nixon resigned before a House impeachment vote. -more-

When I lived in a halfway house at a wizened age of nineteen, I was immersed in the mental health treatment system as it existed then. I learned about a pattern of young adult chronic psychiatric patients, a pattern of repeat hospitalizations. Going to the hospital involuntarily, getting stabilized on medication, being released, then going off medication--to have the cycle repeat--was called the "Revolving Door" by mental health professionals. -more-

The New Century Chamber Orchestra’s Music Director, Daniel Hope, has presented a Christmas program across Europe in collaboration with Swedish mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter. Now, for the first time, they have brought this delightful program to California, with three concerts in The Bay Area December 18-20. I attended the December 20 concert in Berkeley’s First Congregational Church.

The New Century Chamber Orchestra is one of only a handful of conductorless ensembles

in the world. Musical decisions are made collectively, though British violinist Daniel Hope, who is now in his second year as Music Director, provides leadership as a veteran soloist of more than 25 years on the international music scene. Anne Sofie von Otter has likewise enjoyed a career spanning more than three decades as a leading performer of opera, concert, and recital. Both Daniel Horn and Anne Sofie von Otter have recorded extensively.

The Christmas concert they presented locally featured music associated in one way or another with the Christmas season. The New Century Chamber Orchestra opened the program with George Frideric Handel’s Concerto Grosso in D minor, Op. 6, No. 10. During Handel’s time in Rome, he got to know Arcangelo Corelli, who is credited with ‘inventing’ the concerto grosso, a genre featuring a handful of solo instruments (usually two violins, a cello, and a harpsichord), which alternate in a complex interplay with the larger musical ensemble. Corelli’s own Concerto Grosso in G minor, Op. 6, No. 8, “Christmas Concerto,” opened the concert’s second half.

Following the work by Handel, Daniel Horn introduced Anne Sofie von Otter, who sang the aria “Bereite dich, Zion”/ “Prepare yourself, Zion” from Part I of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 from 1734. Next came the aria “vedrò con mio diletto”/“I will see with delight” from Antonio Vivaldi’s opera Giustino. In this lovely aria, Anne Sofie von Otter demonstrated exquisite breath control in the long melodic lines of this music, set to a staccato accompaniment in the strings. To close out the first half of this program, the New Century Chamber Orchestra performed Vivaldi’s “Winter” from The Four Seasons. Violinist Daniel Hope’s solos in this familiar piece were impressive to say the least. -more-

Worth Noting:

Finally, a real break from City meetings with Christmas on Wednesday and reduced service days Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. And, it looks like it will remain quiet until January 6, 2020.



The Rally to protest Toyota’s Decision to team up with Trump to oppose California’s car emissions standards is on for Friday 3-5 pm, Starting January 1, 2020, the CA Dept of General Services (DGS) will require state agencies to purchase vehicles from Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) which have committed to continuing stringent emissions reduction goals for their fleets. https://www.dgs.ca.gov/Press-Releases/Page-Content/News-List-Folder/State-Announces-New-Purchasing-Policies-to-Reduce-Greenhouse-Gas-Emissions#@ViewBag.JumpTo

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Hanukkah begins

No City meetings or events found

Monday, December 23, 2019

City Reduced Service day -more-