Author Archives: Tracey Taylor
Cal: No GM crops at Gill Tract, research work is under way
UC Berkeley has released an open letter to update the community on the state of play at Gill Tract, which, until May 14, was being occupied by a group of farm activists known as the Gill Tract Farmers Collective. The letter says that preparations for agricultural research are now under way at the university-owned site, which is just over the Berkeley border in Albany on San Pablo Avenue, and sets out to dispel what it calls several “myths and misunderstandings” that have appeared in the media, in blogs and in online forums.
Meanwhile, Occupy the Farm is organizing a Planter Box Rally at Gill Tract on Saturday May 19, followed by a Community Forum on Visions for Food Sovereignty and Food Justice. It is also collecting signatures on a petition that aims to “tell the university that farm land is for farming.” … Continue reading »
Police Blotter: Recent crime in Berkeley
May 13:
Solo Car Collision – DUI Arrest – University Avenue and Walnut Street #2012- 25261
On Sunday, May 13, 2012 at about 2:17 a.m., a BPD officer was on a traffic enforcement stop at Oxford and Addison Streets when he heard a car coming north on Oxford in his direction. The officer watched as a Volkswagen collided into the center median and the front tires exploded due to the impact. The driver of the Volkswagen continued west onto University Avenue and came to rest near Walnut Street. The BPD officer went to check on the driver and saw that there were three occupants in the car. None of them complained of any injuries. The BPD officer immediately noted that the driver showed signs of impairment. BPD officers then did Field Sobriety tests which the driver did not complete successfully. The driver agreed to a PAS test (Preliminary Alcohol Screening Device) which resulted in a Blood Alcohol Content of .125% and .127%. The BPD officer arrested the 24 year old Hercules woman for violations of CVC 23152(a) – Driving under the influence of alcohol and CVC 23152 (b)- Driving under the influence of an alcohol with a B.A.C of .08 or more. … Continue reading »
Car strikes tree in central Berkeley kills one, injures two
Update, 11:32 am: All three of the occupants of the Cadillac are currently Berkeley residents, according to new information released by BPD.
The male driver and the child remain in the hospital.
Very preliminary evidence suggests the Cadillac was travelling northbound on California Street when it struck the roundabout in the intersection of Allston Way, then collided with the tree on the eastside of California Street, just north of Allston Way. BDP writes: “These turnabouts, roundabouts, traffic circles are intended to be traffic … Continue reading »
The Berkeley Wire: 05.17.12
Cal junior hot on trail of Sutter’s Mill Meteorites [UCB]
Occupy arrests undermine food justice movement [Policymic]
Unclean hands at the Gill Tract? [East Bay Express]
Saul’s new chef is spicing things up [JWeekly]
Slow, in Berkeley, offers great value [San Francisco Chronicle]
Judge issues temporary restraining order against farm activists [Patch]
KPFA, with plummeting ratings, launches new a.m. show [Express]
Photo: UC Berkeley’s Campbell Hall is being dismantled. Photo: Aaron Glimme.
Berkeleyans closer to being able to sell backyard produce
In August 2010, Sophie Hahn told a reporter it was easier to have a pot collective in Berkeley than to have a vegetable collective. Last night Hahn’s desire to see the city allow residents to sell the food they grow in their backyards came one step closer to reality when the Planning Commission unanimously passed the Edible Garden Initiative.
Until now, Berkeley’s zoning codes have prohibited selling or otherwise conducting commerce outside a house in a residential neighborhood.
The legislation covers fruit, vegetables, nuts, honey, and shell eggs from fowl or poultry, provided they are all whole, intact, and organically grown. (Read the Sale of Non-Processed Edibles from Residential Lot memorandum.) … Continue reading »
Activists accuse Bayer of killing bees, protest in Berkeley
A group of about fifty protesters from Taking Back Our Food System, an East Bay coalition of food, Occupy, and environmental and human rights activists, staged a demonstration outside Bayer’s plant on Parker Street in west Berkeley Wednesday afternoon to protest what it said was the pharmaceutical company’s role in creating pesticides that killed bees.
The demonstrators claim that Bayer is a major producer of Neonicotinoid pesticides (Neonics) and that research show this line of pesticides has a direct role in Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). “Because bees pollinate a most of the world’s food, Bayer’s Neonic pesticides are a threat to our food supply,” they said in a statement read at the demonstration. … Continue reading »
Berkeley murder suspect DeWitt breaks deputy’s jaw
Daniel Jordan DeWitt, the 23-year old charged with murdering Peter Cukor, 67, outside his Berkeley Hills home on February 18, yesterday punched an Alameda County sheriff’s deputy and broke his jaw, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
DeWitt was being placed in waist and leg chains ahead of being transported to Napa State Hospital when he punched the deputy without warning at John George Psychiatric Pavilion in San Leandro.
DeWitt, who according to his family was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia five years ago, allegedly punched and kicked a nurse at the same psychiatric facility in 2010.
Sheriff’s Sgt. J.D. Nelson told the Chronicle: ”Unfortunately, there are people in society who will strike out at a moment’s notice and for no reason. Those are the kind of people we have to deal with on a daily basis.” … Continue reading »
The Berkeley Wire: 05.16.12
Food authors, academics urge Cal to embrace Gill Tract Farm [Fog City Journal]
Berkeley’s Fred Rodriguez boost Olympic dream with Cal Tour [Merc]
Praise for BAM benefit honoring SF arts patron Cissie Swig [Huff Po]
UC Berkeley picks 4th St spot for Shared Services Center [UCB]
King teacher takes teenagers to protest at UC Berkeley [Chronicle]
Cal Golden Bears win record-setting six titles [Cal Bears]
Photo: Helios building, by Avi Hesterman/Watershed Photography.
Berkeley home, crime hotbed, declared a public nuisance
Last night, a West Berkeley home that has been the nexus for serious crime and drug dealing for 30 years was declared a public nuisance by the City Council.
The household at 1722 Ninth Street, owned by 77-year old Roberto Alcala, many of whose extended family live there with him, was described by local residents as “the neighbors from hell.”
The Council’s decision follows a recommendation made in February by the city’s Zoning Adjustments Board not only to slap the home with a public nuisance order, but also to evict its inhabitants. The council chose not to have the house vacated, but instead imposed 11 conditions on the property owner in order to “abate the nuisance activity,” all of which need to be met within one month. These include eradicating illegal substances and unregistered guns from the property, eliminating excessive noise and applying for the permits necessary to demolish an illegal kitchen addition. (Read the full recommendation.) … Continue reading »
Where in Berkeley?
Know where this is? Take a guess and let us know in the Comments.
Update 11:35 am: Rachel A. got it. As Nick Gross explains it, this is a pair of authentic baseball bleacher seats from Fenway Park in Boston that he had installed in front of his house at 1215 Oxford Street. He bought them at an auction last year and says they attract a lot of attention, particularly from street hikers taking a break on their walk up the hill. Congratulations on being this week’s winner, Rachel!
Photo: Nick Gross.
