On January 20, Donald Trump became the 47^th President of the United States. He gave a rambling acceptance speech in which he claimed: “I was saved from death by God to bring back the golden age of America.” Trump then signed more than 100 executive orders. -more-

I'm terrified to sleep tonight. We've had five fires in as many days lit right next to our building by people who are outside and are freezing cold. Our apartment building is within half a block of the former Premier Cru building which the city bought to create low-income housing and then just left empty. -more-

Being indoors, not being threatened, eating a good meal, and keeping hydrated are firsts on the list for the self-care of a troubled individual. -more-

The long-awaited ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, announced Wednesday, offers a glimmer of hope after over a year of relentless attacks on Gaza. The deal, which is expected to go into effect on Sunday, will bring a six-week pause to the violence, with the promise of humanitarian relief and the release of hostages. However, the situation on the ground remains tense as Israeli forces continue airstrikes, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has postponed a Cabinet vote on the ceasefire, citing last-minute demands from Hamas. -more-

Donald Trump posted a grim New Year’s message for the United States: “Our Country is a disaster, a laughing stock all over the World! This is what happens when you have OPEN BORDERS, with weak, ineffective, and virtually nonexistent leadership…The USA is breaking down - A violent erosion of Safety, National Security, and Democracy is taking place all across our Nation. Only strength and powerful leadership will stop it.” -more-

The American Historical Association (AHA), the oldest scholarly organization in the U.S., recently passed the “Resolution to Oppose Scholasticide in Gaza,” condemning the destruction of the Palestinian education system. The vote, supported by over 400 members, represents a pivotal moment for the profession. Sherene Seikaly, a professor at UC Santa Barbara, expressed that this victory, in the face of ongoing violence in Gaza, offers hope for the future. Barbara Weinstein, a historian at New York University, emphasized the growing recognition of historians' broader societal roles, advocating for a more expansive approach to history. -more-

The re-election of Donald Trump has accelerated the decline of the United States into oligarchy. Trump has had billionaire donors for each of his presidential campaigns, but in 2024 the role of these wealthy donors expanded. Donors such as Elon Musk made gigantic contributions to Trump’s campaign; in return for this they are taking an active role in the Trump White House. Perhaps, this time around, Trump turned the oval office into a time share. -more-

This intense Bob Dylan biopic begins in1961 and ends in 1965. During these five years, Dylan conquered the world of folk music and then left it to become a rock star. -more-

The horrors of the Israeli bombardment in Gaza are unfathomable, and the toll on the people there, particularly those trying to save lives, is immeasurable. For over a year, rescuers have been under relentless pressure, digging through rubble with their bare hands, racing against time to save survivors of the ongoing Israeli airstrikes. The carnage has left many unable to save those whose voices they can still hear beneath the wreckage. Nooh al-Shaghnobi, a rescue worker in Gaza, described the haunting experience of leaving people behind because of the lack of proper tools and equipment. These workers face extreme physical and emotional strain, with some suffering from unspeakable levels of stress, anxiety, and guilt. At least 118 rescue workers have died in the line of duty, a tragic testament to the immense risks they face. -more-

The devastating consequences of Israel's relentless bombing campaign, aided by U.S. complicity, are painfully evident in the lives of the children who have borne the brunt of this violence. One such child, Shaymaa Shady, lost her leg in an explosion in Gaza. Along with 15 other children who were evacuated to Italy for medical treatment, Shaymaa faces a long and uncertain road to recovery, compounded by the trauma of losing family members and living in a foreign land.h These children, all under the age of 15, are the survivors of an ongoing tragedy. Some lost limbs to save their lives, while others face permanent disabilities from the bombings. Their young minds carry scars beyond the physical—witnessing horrors that most could never imagine. Many of them, like Ahmad al-Saafen, struggle with prosthetics, and others, such as Baian Azoum, must endure years of treatment after being pulled from the rubble in Gaza. -more-

Headlines and Headaches

I'm not much of a sports fan so I am sometimes baffled by the Chronicle Sporting Green's shorthand chatter and in-house sporting lingo. A headline that is immediately clear to any well-informed game-jock can bounce off my brain like an under-inflated basketball. Case in point: "Adding rotation help may be next on agenda for offseason." And, then there was a December 5 story by Scott Ostler that ran under the daunting headline: "Bonkers Golden At-Bat Might Work." -more-

Kudos for Moe's -more-

On January 20, Donald Trump becomes President. Let’s review what we know about him and see what that suggests about his first 100 days. -more-

b Mentally ill people, in a worst-case scenario, are treated inhumanly, inhumanely, and with perplexing cruelty. This isn't because of a trait of a mentally disabled person. The cause of it is the ignorance and hate harbored by people that are supposedly mentally well. -more-

Worth Noting:

Only one City meeting, the Agenda Committee on Monday. Note opportunities to give input on Bike Plan, Dreamland and Disaster preparedness.

• Monday,
  • At 2:30 pm the Agenda Committee meets in the hybrid format on February 11 City Council Agenda
• Tuesday,
  • From 2 – 6 pm is the Berkeley Bike Plan Update Pop-up at Farmer’s Market.
• Thursday,
  • From 10 am - 12 pm is the in-person Aquatic Park Dreamland Redesign Pop-up.
  • At 11 am is the Marina Lien Sale
  • At 6 pm is Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Unit 2.

• Friday, January 31, 2025
  • From 6 – 8 pm Family Game Night.

• Saturday, February 1, 2025
  • From 10 am – 12:30 pm is the Prepared, Safe, and Healthy Berkeley Workshop on disaster preparedness
  • From 10 am - 12 pm is the in-person Aquatic Park Dreamland Redesign Pop-up.
• Sunday, February 2, 2025
  • From 10 am – 2 pm is the Berkeley Bike Plan Pop-up at Ashby Flea Market.

Check City website for meetings posted on short notice https://berkeleyca.gov

If you are unable to attend a meeting in person and/or it is not offered in the hybrid or an accessible format, TO REQUEST A DISABILITY RELATED ACCOMMODATION(S) TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING, including auxiliary aids or services, please contact the Disability Services specialist at 510-981-6418 (V) or 510-981-6347 at least 3 days before the meeting (the sooner the better). Thomas Gregory is the ADA Program Coordinator.

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BERKELEY PUBLIC MEETINGS AND CIVIC EVENTS -more-

Dear Mayor and Councilmembers:

Our city council and commissioners are elected and appointed to represent the interests of the residents of Berkeley, but in recent years the council majority seems instead to represent the interests of developers, even when they fail to provide residential units affordable for middle and low-income residents—that is, the housing we need in Berkeley.

Our city Downtown Area Plan recognized the importance to the city of movie theaters downtown, but developers’ drive to build ever more market rate housing downtown has apparently superseded the common sense expressed in the Downtown Plan.

I strongly oppose the city’s having granted a categorical exemption from the CEQA law to the developer who proposes to demolish the historic UA Theatre. I urge that that exemption be withdrawn.

The United Artists Theatre is a beautifully-designed venue for affordable culture and entertainment for the people of Berkeley and the East Bay, that has served residents for decades and has the potential to do so in the future. The city has already failed to protect the other two downtown movie theaters. Berkeley, with more than 117,000 residents and one of the world’s great universities, surely has an obligation to ensure a downtown venue for movies, for the art of film. -more-

This intense Bob Dylan biopic begins in1961 and ends in 1965. During these five years, Dylan conquered the world of folk music and then left it to become a rock star. -more-

Worth Noting:

Busy week ahead with City Board and Commission meetings. City Council is on winter recess until January 20, 2025. The first council meeting of the new year is January 21. The agenda is available for comment at the bottom of this email with middle housing (26), Berkeley as a sanctuary city (27) and upgrades to high risk intersections and AB 413 (28).

• Monday, January 13, 2025:
  • At 6:30 pm the Youth Commission meets in person.
  • At 7 pm the Peace and Justice Commission meets in person at 7 pm with Berkeley as a Sanctuary City on the agenda
• Wednesday, January 15, 2025:
  • At 1:30 pm the Commission on Aging meets in person.
  • At 4 pm the Civic Arts Commission provides a webinar on community festivals.
  • At 7 pm the Commission on Labor meets in person.
  • At 7 pm the Commission on the Status of Women meets in person.
  • The Planning Commission meeting is cancelled.
• Thursday, January 16, 2025:
  • At 5:30 pm the Zero Waste Commission meets in person.
  • At 6:15 pm the Transportation and Infrastructure Commission meets in person with Daylighting CA AB 413 on the agenda.
  • At 6:30 pm the Fair Campaign Practices Commission / Open Government Commission (FCPC/OGC) meets in the Hybrid format with a very full agenda.
  • At 6:30 pm the Design review Committee meets in person on one 26-story project.
• Friday, January 17, 2025:
  • At 12 pm the Civic Arts Commission provides a webinar on general operating support.
• Saturday, January 18, 2025:
  • At 9 am is unit 1 of the Community Response Team Response (CERT).
  • From 9 – 11 am is 3^rd Saturday Shoreline Cleanup.

Check City website for meetings posted on short notice, webinars and City of Berkeley Recreation Calendar. https://berkeleyca.gov



If you are unable to attend a meeting in person due to a disability and/or it is not offered in the hybrid or an accessible format, TO REQUEST A DISABILITY RELATED ACCOMMODATION(S) TO PARTICIPATE IN A CITY MEETING, including auxiliary aids or services, please contact the Disability Services specialist at 510-981-6418 (V) or 510-981-6347 at least 3 days before the meeting (the sooner the better). Thomas Gregory is the ADA Program Coordinator.

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BERKELEY PUBLIC MEETINGS AND CIVIC EVENTS -more-

Worth Noting:

Winter recess ends Monday with the first council meeting of the new year on Tuesday, we can expect Council to pass January 21. The agenda is available for comment at the bottom of this email with middle housing (26), Berkeley as a sanctuary city (27) and upgrades to high risk intersections and AB 413 (28).

• Tuesday, January 21, 2025: A
  • t 11 am the Solano Business Improvement District meets in person.
  • At 6 pm the City Council meets in the hybrid format.
• Wednesday, January 22, 2025:
  • At 6 pm the Civic Arts Commission meets in person.
  • At 6 pm the Environment and Climate Commission meets in person.
  • At 6 pm is the Recreation Scholarship Workshop,
  • At 6:30 pm the Police Accountability Board meets in the hybrid format.
  • At 7 pm the Disaster and Fire Safety Commission meets in person.
• Thursday, January 23, 2025:
  • At 6:30 pm the Community Health Commission meets in person.
  • At 7 pm the Mental Health Commission meets in person.
  • At 7 pm the Zoning Adjustment Board meets in the hybrid format.
• Saturday, January 25, 2025:
  • At 9 am is the CERT Unit 2 Disaster Preparedness.
  • From 10 am – 2 pm is the pop-up on updating the Berkeley Bike Plan at the Downtown Farmer’s Market.
  • At 10 am is Nature Journaling for children.
  • At 12:30 pm is Swim Lesson Assessment Day

Check City website for meetings posted on short notice, webinars and City of Berkeley Recreation Calendar. https://berkeleyca.gov



If you are unable to attend a meeting in person due to a disability and/or it is not offered in the hybrid or an accessible format, TO REQUEST A DISABILITY RELATED ACCOMMODATION(S) TO PARTICIPATE IN A CITY MEETING, including auxiliary aids or services, please contact the Disability Services specialist at 510-981-6418 (V) or 510-981-6347 at least 3 days before the meeting (the sooner the better). Thomas Gregory is the ADA Program Coordinator.

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BERKELEY PUBLIC MEETINGS AND CIVIC EVENTS -more-