I am writing to strongly recommend that you not take final action to adopt a single “Vision” for the Civic Center at your Tuesday, September 22, 2020 meeting but instead hold a workshop to hear a presentation of the current staff and consultant recommendations, thank the consultants for their work so their contracts can be wrapped up, and move to the next stage which should be review of the proposed “Vision” by three or four Commissions and opportunity for general public review and comment.

The proposal should certainly go for comments to the full Landmarks Preservation Commission and the full Parks & Waterfront Commission, both of which share jurisdiction over review and advising on buildings and facilities in the Civic Center area.

It should also probably go to the Public Works Commission—since it involves changes to two streets, and infrastructure—and to the Civic Arts Commission, since a major array of performing and visual arts facilities is proposed for the Civic Center.


The “Vision” can then come back to the Council at a future date for possible action. That should probably be about three or four months from now. By that time Federal and State elections will also be over and at least the broad parameters of the state and national economic and political situation will be clearer, with all their implications for municipal budgets and funding and opportunities for—or roadblocks to—civic improvements.

You have been told that the final “Vision” went through a robust community process and is ready for your action. This is not correct or accurate.

The reality is that the actual public process involved review of three options, while the final recommended “Vision” was only released publicly this month, incorporated into a more than 900 page report, with supplemental documents and reports. There has been no meaningful opportunity for Commissions, the general public, other stakeholders like community groups (in preservation and the arts in particular) or even Councilmembers for that matter, to review, digest, react to, and consider all this material. -more-

In this election, there is one incumbent member of the Berkeley City Council who truly deserves to be re-elected – Cheryl Davila of District 2. Cheryl Davila is by far the most progressive candidate in the field, consistently demonstrating her dedication to enlightened politics since her election in 2016. It was with heavy heart that I learned that Max Anderson would retire in 2016. Max was the Conscience of the Council. Who would fill his shoes? The answer became clear only a few months into 2017. Cheryl Davila became the new Conscience of the Council. She has championed causes for South Berkeley, spoken out against the gentrification policies pushed by the City Manager, advocated for the homeless, fought for affordable housing, and denounced police militarization and police harassment of POC, the homeless, and those in mental crises. Her voting record is exemplary – always choosing the moral position over pandering to the wealthy and developers. She has the strongest environmental voting record on the Council. Most recently, Cheryl pushed the Council to eliminate tear gas and other pain compliance devices from the police, and she had the foresight to make the only “defunding police” proposal that didn’t just kick the can down the road.

Cheryl has shown courage in standing up to the Mayor and other Council members who have regularly marginalized and disrespected her during Council meetings. As the Conscience of the Council, Cheryl frames her vote in terms of a moral choice rather than a bureaucratic, business decision. Such framing has left the mayor and some Council members embarrassed and angry. Attempts to silence her during Council meetings are legend, with the public often erupting in protest, demanding to “let her speak.” And unlike previous elections where Council members cross-endorsed each other, in this election the majority of Council members are determined to rid themselves of this thorn in their side. They want to remove Cheryl because she dares to identify the moral underpinnings of decisions that impact the community. But the real progressive community leaders know better, which is why Cheryl has the endorsements of Max Anderson, Gus Newport, Jovanka Beckles, Barbara Brust, Moni Law, Rev. Michael Smith, and Ms. Richie Smith - just to name a few. For a complete list of her endorsements, see her website https://cheryldavila.vote/endorsements/. -more-

David Mundstock, a progressive political activist, world traveler, Cal and UC law school graduate and historian of Berkeley electoral politics passed away August 28th at his home in Berkeley. David was 72 and his sudden death shocked his family, the members of his longtime walking group and the numerous other friends he made over the decades he lived in Berkeley. -more-

For more than 5 years Friends of Adeline has been working for creating low-income housing and reversing the displacement of African-Americans as a part of the City's Adeline Corridor Plan.

2020 President Trump dismissed climate change as a hoax. Perhaps he has forgotten, 2009 Trump purchased a full-page ad on 6, Dec. 2009, on climate change which stated, “If we fail to act now, it is scientifically irrefutable that there will be catastrophic and irreversible consequences for humanity and our planet.” Well said sir! Please convey your wise words to 2020 Donald Trump who stubbornly refuses to accept the devastating impact of climate change for political purposes. Another gross lie to mislead the American people -more-

It is possible that the question we have been chasing in these articles has been the wrong one. We have been asking how white people can overcome their psychological and social hang-ups enough to address the issues of race and racism head on – socially, politically, and culturally. But perhaps the real question should have been how white people can disentangle themselves from the knots and webs of whiteness in which they have been thrust and are caught. These webs and knots allow white people to be used by white supremacy to put black people and others of color in thrall to the needs of white racialized society. The real (liberatory) question should be how white people can stop acting white.

What does “acting white” mean? White people act white when, in social situations, they single out the race of others or give it special attention. It doesn’t matter if the white person does it in an approving or patronizing or gratuitously hostile manner. The notice and naming of a product of white racializing activity serves to nourish the process of racialization upon which white racialized identity aggrandizes itself. It preempts whatever kind of autonomous self-identification the other person might have had in mind for themselves, thus coopting (aka speaking for) the other.

Acting white very often entails acting as if one knows what the other is going to say, or what the other is thinking, and overtly relating to that alleged (self-generated) "knowledge." Usually such things are done without thinking. But racialized "prior" knowledge is acquired from other white people, and not from the person to whom one is speaking. It is simply a way of preempting the other.

Acting white may involve seeing people of color as a threat. To act as if one is arbitrarily threatened by the other’s presence is itself a racializing act. If a white person may find themselves outnumbered by black people, they may try to be super respectful. But it often leads one to speak in a loud voice, and thus reveal that one is scared stiff.
-more-

KPFA's Local Station Board (LSB) has announced a new process for public attendance and comment at the station's upcoming public meeting on September 19. On September 17, with only 3 days notice, KPFA's LSB Secretary changed the notice for this Saturday’s bi-monthly meeting to one that requires individuals wanting to attend—or make a Public Comment—to send an email request and to do so by Friday, September 18. -more-

During Donald Trump's recent photo-op stop in California, I heard a radio reporter use the phrase "the president's motorcade." Suddenly, a chill raced down my spine. That phrase—forever associated with President Kennedy's assassination in Dallas—prompted an ominous scenario to take shape in my mind. Here's how it goes. -more-

There's a lot of concern about what happens after the polls close on November 3rd. Here's the BB view: mainstream media "exit" polls will show that Joe Biden won the popular vote by more than ten percentage points. Before midnight, on the West Coast, enough California results will be published to confirm this -- Biden will gather two-thirds of the Golden State early vote. Then the nation will wait on the electoral-college results. -more-

Treatment practitioners do not have a mandate and probably do not have an incentive to be invested in the success of those they treat. Proper clinical work seems to consist of good documentation of how sick a person supposedly is, how hopeless we are, to what extent our inappropriate behavior can be remediated, and to what extent not. Documentation is everything. It keeps the money rolling in. It demonstrates that work is apparently being done. It shows how the sick people can be kept under restriction, and, if not, where to funnel the person into the criminal justice system, as well as how to do that. -more-

In a September 14 speech, Joe Biden blasted Trump for "his disdain for science and facts.” "If you give a climate arsonist four more years in the White House, why would anyone be surprised if we have more of America ablaze?" Of course Biden was referring to the wildfires raging in California, Oregon, and Washington. -more-

Thank You For Your Service

I'm so proud of my son. I just received word that he has enlisted in the battle to defend America's freedom.

It's sobering to learn that your only child is willing to risk his life to protect democracy here at home. That's why I salute his decision.

He won't be flying overseas to shoot and kill strangers in a foreign country, however. He's chosen to serve as a real freedom fighter—right here in the USA.

He's signed up for duty as a poll worker in our November election.

How Kamala's Plan Could Accelerate the Vote -more-

Worth Noting:

Tuesday the City Council is poised to adopt a plan for the Civic Center which most of us have never seen and is posted as an impossible to read list of documents with no titles attached to the agenda item. The Civic Center Plan needs a full presentation to the public as a worksession with ample opportunity for comment not some resolution passed in the dark of the night.



Tuesday – City Council, 6 – 11 pm key items under action A. Annual Housing Pipeline Report, 13. Navigable Cities - street and sidewalk conditions and impact on persons with disabilities, 14. Adoption of Civic Center Vision Plan, 15. Crime Report and Use of Force Report.

Wednesday – meeting on Bayer’s plan for expansion need to register to attend

Friday – Virtual Summit Series: 8:30 am – 12 pm, Just and Regenerative Future



From City of Berkeley

Bay Area SunShares is offering webinar on solar and battery discount programs Sept 23 at 9-10 am, Sept 29 at 12 – 1 pm and in October, check schedule and sign-up https://www.bayareasunshares.org/webinars

East Bay Community Energy (EBCE) offering Resilient Home program solar and battery with $1250 incentive, Sept 24 at 6-7 pm, Sept 29 at 12-1 pm and Sept 30 at 6-7 pm, check schedule and sign-up https://ebce.org/news-and-events/#section-3

Electric Car and e-bikes Drive Clean Bay Area Preferred Pricing Campaign events Sept 26 at 4-5:30 pm register https://www.eventbrite.com/e/electrify-your-ride-event-tickets-117596729985

Electric Cars 101 rebates, incentives, vehicle range, charging Sept 30 at 5-6 pm https://www.eventbrite.com/e/electric-cars-101-tickets-118065821049



Sunday, September 20, 2020

No City meetings or events found



Monday, September 21, 2020

City Council Public Safety Committee, 10:30 am,,

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/Home/Policy_Committee__Public_Safety.aspx

Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81289549081

Teleconference: 1-669-900-9128 Meeting ID: 812 8954 9081

Agenda: 2. Allowance for Special Response Team to us Tear Gas in Certain Circumstances, 3. Improving Hate Crimes Reporting and Response, 4. Ordinance Police Acquisition and Use of Controlled Equipment,



Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Berkeley City Council,

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/City_Council/City_Council__Agenda_Index.aspx

4 pm, Closed Session

Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81891250764

Teleconference: 1-669-900-9128 Meeting ID: 818 9125 0764

Agenda: 1. Pending Litigation Berkeley v. Regents UC, Case RG19023058, 2. Anticipated Litigation Berkeley v. Regents UC



6 pm – 11 pm, Regular Session

Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89880085934

Teleconference: 1-669-900-9128 Meeting ID: 89880085934

CONSENT: 1. Resolution Reviewing and Ratifying the Proclamation of Emergency Due to COVID-19, 2. Amend Contract Add $100,000 total $150,000 with AG Witt LLC for COVID-19 Emergency Operations Cost Recovery Consultant, 2. Bid Solicitations $5,510,000, 3. Bid Solicitations $5,510,000, 4. 4. Submit grant agreements to accept COVID-19 response grant, 5. Revenue agreements for Aging Services Programs FY2021, 6. Contract add $73,756 total $116,756 and extend 3 years to 11/30/2025 with CivicPlus, Inc for Software Maintenance and Professional services online registration and reservation system, 7. Contract add $30,000 total $80,000 with Marken Mechanical for on-call heating, ac and ventilations services for the City, 8. Designating the Disaster and Fire Safety Commission as the Citizens’ Oversight Committee for Expenditure of Proceeds of the Fire, Safety, Emergency Services and Wildfire Prevention Tax (measure FF), 9. Providing our Unhoused Communities with Potable Water and addressing water insecurity, 10. Resolution 1 Minute 46 seconds of Mindfulness to City Meetings, 11. Support CA Proposition 17 Restoring Right to Vote after Completion of Prison Term, 12. 8. Support SB-1079 Residential Property Foreclosure, bill intended to mitigate against blight, vacancy and transfer of property from owner occupants to corporate landlords in event that CA experiences wave of foreclosures, ACTION: A. Annual Housing Pipeline Report 13. Presentation on the Navigable Cities Framework for ensuring Access and Freedom of Movement for People with Disabilities in Berkeley, 14. Adoption – Civic Center Vision Plan, 15. 2019 Crime Report and five Year Use of Force Report, 16. Healthy Checkout – stores >2500 sq ft to sell more nutritious food and beverage options at checkout, 17. Support Community Refrigerators $8,000 for those with no refrigeration, 18. Request the US House introduce the “The Breathe Act -more-