Statistics are like lawyers. You can find one to support your position no matter how ridiculous.

As the final part of an ongoing series on “affordability,” this article looks into the biggest elephant in the room: statistics that have been abused by every federal and state administration for the past 40 years, about the cost of living.

What the heck is going on?

Trying to apply the rules of finance to the world, today, is like trying to apply the rule of law to Bill Barr’s Justice Department. It makes your head hurt because it’s disconnected from reality.

Tesla, a company that has annual earnings of about $24.8 billion is “valued” by the market as a $145 billion company, even though it does not make a profit. Meanwhile, General Motors has annual revenues of about $137 billion and made $8.1 billion net profit and is valued by the market as a $49.6 billion company. Granted, Tesla’s growth rate is currently projected to be three times that of GM’s, but when Tesla gets as big as GM, it’s not going to be growing that fast, anymore. Tesla is presently valued at more than Honda, Ford, and General Motors, combined.

This defies common sense. What ever happened to the efficient market theory?

Now consider that the U.S. Federal Reserve is incessantly talking about easing interest rates and being ready to flood the markets with cash (quantitative easing) at the slightest sign of economic “weakness,” at a time when all the major stock market averages are making all-time highs, almost dialy.

This has never happened before in the history of modern finance. And, it is enabling bad actors in the markets, propping up insolvent, “zombie” companies that have no business continuing to exist, and encouraging wild speculation in stock and bond markets around the world. -more-

Three crucial measures on the March 3 Primary ballot—E, G and H—will maintain Berkeley’s high quality education. But the measure that will do most to change conditions in Berkeley Schools is Measure E. For the past decade, since the financial crisis—because Berkeley does not receive as much revenue from the state as neighboring districts—teachers have received only minimal raises that have not kept pace with neighboring districts. With these districts passing parcel taxes that can be used to raise teachers’ salaries, Berkeley’s compensation has slipped to near the bottom compared to other Alameda County schools. In a competitive market for highly qualified educators, Berkeley’s relatively low salaries are making it difficult to recruit and retain their talented teachers, destabilizing schools and hurting students. -more-

Two weeks ago I attended a presentation at the West Branch of the Berkeley Public Library by a fellow who runs a business selling pot in this town. Asked to move his business for the second time because it was too close to schools and children, he now seeks to occupy a large space at University Avenue and San Pablo Avenue that used to be a pet supply store—on the same block as the Berkeley Public Library’s West Branch, where school kids go to read, attend events, and access the Internet.

After hearing what the marijuana seller had to say, along with two local businesses and some neighborhood residents, I came away thinking this isn’t the best idea in the world. -more-

Re: Build build build build build build build build

Another one of your pieces of developer/builder propaganda passing as a news article. OK, I get it that the government currently (federal, state) won’t or can’t commit to building truly affordable housing in places like California to help those that need it, but you’re pushing another version of trickle-down. Build everywhere, and some will go to the truly needy. Ever heard of income inequality? Maybe Reagan’s tax cuts had something to do with it.

The YIMBY “movement” is tech and building industry-funded, and your heroine, Sonja Trauss, couldn’t even get elected to supervisor in San Francisco. But such a charming photo of her and her child, and such a deceptive one of the potential development site in Lafayette. Such an artfully placed blighting board, just in case we were distracted by the rolling, green hills.

Bias, bias, bias. -more-

The attorney general’s response to President Trump's outrage over the sentencing of Roger Stone, his former campaign 2016 advisor, is pure Kabuki Theater feigning dismay but agreeing to review the case. The Republicans seem to have taken a vow of silence uncomfortable in confronting the truth and their own hypocrisy. -more-

Undecided people keep asking how to vote in the March primary, with only a bit more than a week to make up their minds. Me, I'm voting for Elizabeth Warren because I think she would make a good president: smart, good political ideas, not as old as some. For more details, see a previous editorial. -more-

An “autocrat” is someone who insists on complete obedience from others; an imperious or domineering person.

President Donald Trump is fond of autocrats, including Turkish President Recep Tuyyip Erdagon, Muhammad bin Salman; Hungarian President Viktor Orban; North Korean leader Kim Jong Un; Russian President Vladimir Putin; Egypt’s Abdel-Fatah al-Sisi, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, and Brazil’s President Jair Balsonaro. Now Trump is an autocrat himself.

How did this happen? Well he rose to this exalted status mainly by two enablers, Attorney General William Barr and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). Also, he made the Republican Party his party and he has a loyal following by validating their prejudices.

Trump recently claimed that he, not Barr, is “the chief law enforcement officer” of America. Barr, of course, is Trump’s kind of Attorney General because he believes that the Executive Branch is first among the three branches of government. With Barr’s acquiescence, Trump has politically weaponized the Justice Department. Now the Justice Department represents Trump’s interests, not the country’s. -more-

b Antipsychotics have a substantial limiting effect on the brain's level of energy. Antipsychotics produce an impairment, introduced to compensate for psychosis, which is worse by far than having a limit on the level of functioning. You can not do very much when you take antipsychotics. They prevent functioning at a competitive level in most employment. They make it difficult to survive in demanding circumstances. Antipsychotics introduce an abnormality, intended to treat a worse abnormality. -more-

From the Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of Burundi?

I recently printed out a map of the planet and set about highlighting all the countries on Earth that are currently "hosting" US forces. The source data includes foreign deployments ranging from less than 20 soldiers to more than 2,000 troops. (There currently are 225,000 US soldiers stationed in other people's countries, with 12,000 of them stuck in Afghanistan.)

But counting the number of "Pentagonized" countries turned out to be too large a chore. Instead, I opted to seek out only those nations that did NOT have US forces embedded on their soil. That job went much faster: It turned out there were only 11.

Here is a list of the less-than-a-dozen nations where no one is saluting a US flag: Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Eritrea, French Guiana, Gambia, Iran, Lesotho, North Korea, South Sudan, and Western Sahara.

This list may soon become even shorter given US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's February 1 visit to Belarus. Pompeo has offered the traditionally Russia-aligned nation a bounty of American-sourced energy—as Pompeo put it: "100% of the oil you need at competitive prices.”

Find the Dinosaur

A juvenile brontosaurus was recently spotted in the bushes near a corner home in West Berkeley. If you'd like to track it down, here are some clues as to its location:

(1) "Yes, ___, There is a Santa Claus."

(2) "Ode to Joy" is found in Beethoven's _____ Symphony.

-more-

On Friday, February 21, Montenegran guitarist Miloš and friends gave a concert at Berkeley’s First Congregational Church. Performing with Miloš on many pieces in this concert were violinists Eloisa-Fleur Thom and Alessandro Ruisi, violist Matthew Kettle, cellist Max Ruisi, and double bassist Toby Hughes, members of 12 Ensemble. The concert opened with 12 Ensemble performing a selection from Johann Sebastian Bach’s Goldberg Variations. Then Miloš came on stage to join 12 Ensemble in Luigi Boccherini’s “Fandango” from his Guitar Quintet No. 4 in D Major. This familiar piece was given a rousing performance. Next came two Spanish Dances for solo guiitar by Enrique Granados, the familiar Andaluza and the not-do-familiar Oriental. Following these works came two pieces by Manuel De Falla, the energetic “Dance of the Miller,” from The Three-Cornered Hat, and a hauntingly beautiful folksong, “Nana,” performed by Miloš with 12 Ensemble from Seven Spanish Folksongs. Next was an Anonymous Spanish Romance, perhaps the highlight of the entire concert. This familiar work is a staple of the guitar repertory, and it has sometimes been attributed to Tárrega, Fernando Sor, or Narciso Ypes. Played by Miloš with 12 Ensemble, this Romance was ravishingly beautiful. Next came Libertango by Argentine composer Astor Piazzola, which closed out the first half of the program. -more-

Worth Noting and Showing Up:

The weekly summary of city meetings with agenda highlights for February 23 – March 1 is exceptionally long with the City Council Agenda Committee on Monday and City Council Regular meeting on Tuesday absorbing a lot of space.

Search for Director of Library Services (DOLS) – There are two opportunities to attend the Community meetings on the process and to comment on the ideal candidate profile with Pam Derby from CPS HR Consulting.: Monday 12:30 – 2 pm and Tuesday 6 – 7:30 pm, For more detail and available appointment times for comment in addition to noted public meetings check: https://www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org/about/board-library-trustees

Monday – The Planning Commission / ZAB subcommittees are meeting on the Zoning Ordinance revisions. The agenda attachment with the revisions is 265 pages.

Tuesday - The Council meeting includes two appeals followed by the Surveillance Reports. It is also the same evening of the last Democratic primary debate if you haven’t made up your mind yet and an interesting looking talk for parents of young children on climate.

Wednesday – The Joint Subcommittee for the Implementation of State Housing Laws (JSISHL) agenda is on establishing objective housing/development standards. The LeConte neighborhood meeting is open to residents living in other Berkeley neighborhoods.



Sunday, February 23, 2020

Presidential Forum on Economic Justice for Black Americans – Earn My Vote, 4 – 8 pm, Beebe Memorial Cathedral, 3900 Telegraph , Oakland, free event, organizers Patricia Brooks 510.590.1107, Ben Bartlett 310.428.4803, Eventbrite lists 4-8 pm, Facebook post lists 4-8 pm and in details lists 1-5 pm, check with organizer to confirm. -more-