Friday, February 3, 2012
Friday's Best Quotes: On Komen, Using Taxpayer Funds to Lobby, and the Bay Citizen Merger
Politics / Health & Medicine / Transportation Robert Gammon — Fri, Feb 3, 2012 at 11:29 AM
Best quotes of the day:
1. “We want to apologize for recent decisions that cast doubt upon our commitment to our mission of saving women’s lives,” tweeted by Susan G. Komen foundation.
Friday’s Top Stories: Komen Changes Mind on Planned Parenthood; Bay Citizen and California Watch Are in Merger Talks
Media / Politics / Health & Medicine Robert Gammon — Fri, Feb 3, 2012 at 9:58 AM
Today’s top stories:
1. The Susan G. Komen foundation, a breast cancer organization that was under siege for its decision earlier this week to defund Planned Parenthood, reversed course today, The New York Times reports. In a statement, the Komen foundation said it had changed its policies and would continue to fund Planned Parenthood. Earlier this week, Komen had said that it wouldn’t give money to any nonprofits that were under “investigation.” But today, Komen said it was altering that policy to clarify that the investigation would have to be criminal in nature and not political. Congressional Republicans, who want to kill Planned Parenthood because it provides abortion services, had launched an investigation of Planned Parenthood, but the probe is widely considered to be nothing more than a political stunt.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Thursday’s Best Quotes: On No Snow, SmartMeters, and HoJo
Politics / Environment / Occupy Robert Gammon — Thu, Feb 2, 2012 at 11:30 AM
Best quotes of the day:
1. "It's time to be concerned," said Maury Roos, the state's chief hydrologist on the fact that this year's snowpack is only 37 percent of normal.
2. "We're not going to stop. We're not going away," said Josh Hart, a Santa Cruz County resident and organizer of a grassroots group called Stop Smart Meters. "People are going to refuse to pay these fees. You're going to see personal injury lawsuits and class-action lawsuits."
3. "If one house on a block opts for an analog meter, the question is, should all the homes on the block share the cost for sending a meter reader to that one house?" said PG&E Chief Customer Officer Helen Burt. "We don't think so."
In Light of the Komen-Planned Parenthood Flap
Politics Ellen Cushing — Thu, Feb 2, 2012 at 9:48 AM
Here's a friendly reminder:
(h/t Xeni and everyone else in the universe)
Also: everyone should read this great MoJo piece from '09 about pinkwashing!
Thursday’s Top Five Stories: No Snowpack, No Water; SmartMeter Opt-Out Criticized
Law Enforcement & Crime / Health & Medicine / Environment Robert Gammon — Thu, Feb 2, 2012 at 9:27 AM
Stories you shouldn’t miss:
1. State water officials are worried about the meager snowpack in the Sierra as Northern California continues to experience a bone-dry winter. The Chron reports that measurements yesterday showed that the snowpack is only 37 percent of normal for this time of year. The state’s reservoirs are still in good shape, but that will change if the dry weather continues. California may need another “Miracle March” of wet weather to stave off water rationing this summer.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
City of Berkeley Takes Steps to Move Its Money to a Local Bank
Politics / Occupy John C. Osborn — Wed, Feb 1, 2012 at 4:03 PM
In what could well be one of the more significant consequences of the Occupy Wall Street movement, Berkeley may become one of the first cities in the country to pull its assets out of a major bank — in this case, Wells Fargo — as response to its role in the financial meltdown.
The city council unanimously decided to review the feasibility of transferring its $300 million or so in assets from the bank to either a local bank or a credit union, and whether an institution of that size would be able to handle the banking transactions required of a medium-sized city.
10 Things That Cost Less Than Facebook's $5 Billion IPO
Science & Technology Ellen Cushing — Wed, Feb 1, 2012 at 3:28 PM
As you've probably heard, Facebook filed a $5 billion IPO today — which makes it the biggest public offering in history, and which analysts say will push the company's total value to over $100 billion. Presented without commentary, here's a list of things that cost less than $5 billion:
-119,047,610 Big Macs
-2,666,666.67 of these (extremely ugly*) diamond Tiffany necklaces
The Oakland Zoo's Adorable Baby Giraffe Makes First Public Appearance
Environment Cassie Harwood — Wed, Feb 1, 2012 at 2:15 PM
If you’re in need of a cuteness overdose to get you through the rest of the week, stop by the Oakland Zoo tomorrow between 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. for the first public viewing of the zoo’s new baby giraffe, Maggie, who was born at the zoo in the early morning hours of Jan. 12. At eighty pounds, 72 inches, and immeasurable amounts of adorability, the long-necked tyke is reportedly the first female giraffe born at the Oakland Zoo in nearly a decade. Her first public appearance comes two days after the Oakland City Council managed to avoid slashing funds to the organization after the City’s recent loss of redevelopment dollars. It’s also just a week before the zoo hosts a conference for the International Association of Giraffe Care Professionals, during which gaggles of researchers, conservationists, and other giraffe devotees will gather to discuss the welfare of the majestic mammals (both captive and wild) throughout the world.
City of Berkeley Files Lawsuit Against Rasputin Music Owner
Business / Law Enforcement & Crime Kathleen Richards — Wed, Feb 1, 2012 at 12:15 PM
Via Berkeleyside, the City of Berkeley has filed a lawsuit against Ken Sarachan, the owner of Rasputin Music, in order to seize the empty lot he owns at the corner of Haste and Telegraph in order to pay back $640,000 in liens and interest Sarachan owes the city.
As we've previously reported, the city council decided last fall to pursue foreclosure proceedings against Sarachan in an effort to force him to pay the liens he owes, develop the land, or sell it to someone who would. The lot across from Amoeba Music has been vacant for nearly a quarter century, attracting rats and becoming a major eyesore.
It was initially the site of the Berkeley Inn, which was destroyed by two fires. The City of Berkeley cleaned up the site after the then-owners Sutter Land Development Company didn't, putting liens on the property. Originally, Amoeba owner Marc Weinstein was going to turn the site into low-income housing with an Amoeba on the ground floor, but Sarachan stepped in and bought the property instead. He never paid the city back or developed the property, despite multiple plans to do so. While Sarachan blames the city for the lack of action, the lawsuit alleges that Sarachan missed multiple deadlines set by the city.
- The vacant lot at Telegraph and Haste.
- Judith Scherr
Wednesday's Best Quotes: On Stay-Away Orders, Oakland's Finances, and Apple's Domination
Politics / Business / Occupy Robert Gammon — Wed, Feb 1, 2012 at 11:30 AM
The best quotes of the day:
1. "While we respect every citizen's right to protest peacefully, we will not tolerate individuals who come to Oakland with an organized strategy to riot, clash with police officers, vandalize property and wreak havoc upon the city," Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O'Malley said in a statement.
2. "It's unconstitutional," said attorney David Briggs, whose client, Mario Casillas of San Bruno, an Oakland Occupy protester, is charged with two felony counts of assaulting a peace officer and is subject to the stay-away order. "They have a right to freedom of assembly, the right to free speech. The stay-away order has nothing to do with the charges."
