Daily Archives: January 10, 2011
The Berkeley Wire: 01.10.11
Composer John Adams walks Tilden as part of his creative process [WSJ]
Culinary couple behind eVe restaurant offer new cooking classes [Food Gal]
Geoffrey Keppel, UC Berkeley professor emeritus of psychology, dies [UCB]
Cal can expect deep cuts, none for K-12 education, in new state budget [Chronicle]
Photo by parksjd1/Berkeleyside Flickr pool.
Student brings gun to Berkeley High
A 15-year old boy was caught with a handgun at Berkeley High School this morning, according to authorities.
The student, who was not named, apparently brought a small caliber gun to school, Berkeley High Principal Pasquale Scuderi told parents in an e-mail message. “Multiple sources” told school officials about the gun, and the student was detained by 11 am, an hour after school began, Scuderi said. The Berkeley police department then took over the investigation.
“The … Continue reading »
Berkeley auditor report shows $310m benefit debt
The city of Berkeley has an unfunded liability for promised employee benefits of $310 million — which equates to $197,000 for every full-time city employee — according to an eye-opening story by Daniel Borenstein published in the Contra Costa Times on January 8.
The piece, which takes as its starting point a November 16 report by Berkeley city auditor Ann-Marie Hogan, claims that the city has spent beyond its means, and will have to make difficult choices on whether to … Continue reading »
Berkeleyside’s first Local Business Forum: the line-up
With only two weeks to go before the Berkeleyside Local Business Forum, details of the event are coalescing.
The Forum, scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday, January 24 at the Freight & Salvage on Addison, will provide participants with a chance to discuss the business climate in Berkeley, share experiences and learn from peers. The evening will be conversational and interactive — it’s not an occasion for speeches or soporific PowerPoint presentations.
Among the confirmed panelists so far are … Continue reading »
Berkeley to move cautiously on marijuana grow facilities
As Berkeley prepares to form a new medical marijuana commission to draw up rules governing the growth of cannabis, it must decide whether recent threats of legal retribution by the Alameda County District Attorney will nix plans for large-scale cultivation facilities.
In December, District Attorney Nancy O’Malley sent a letter to Oakland city officials alerting them that their plans to allow large-scale growing facilities would violate state and federal laws. The warning prompted Oakland to suspend plans to issue permits for the marijuana factories until Feb. 1. Oakland is also considering modifications to its law.
Now Berkeley, too, will proceed with caution, Mayor Tom Bates said on Saturday. Although the city did not directly receive a letter from O’Malley, the one sent to Oakland left a “cold chill” for elected officials, said Bates. O’Malley’s letter suggested that that public officials could be held personally and criminally liable if they move forward to open any of the six 30,000 square foot grow facilities authorized by the November passage of Measure T.
“It put a cold stake in the hearts of elected officials,” Bates said. “I guess the downside is we go to jail.” … Continue reading »
