Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Recycling Trashes Berkeley’s Budget
Politics / Environment Robert Gammon — Tue, Feb 9, 2010 at 11:46 AM
The City of Berkeley is facing a $10 million budget deficit, due in large part to an increase in recycling, which has lessened garbage-collection revenues, the Chron reports. In fact, Berkeley residents are recycling so much these days, that they’ve decided to downsize their garbage cans, thereby costing the city much-needed funds, because Berkeley charges collection fees based on the size of the cans.
Berkeley Readies for Lawsuit Over Pot Club Move
Politics / People / Business / Health Robert Gammon — Tue, Feb 9, 2010 at 11:24 AM
Realizing that it was going to be sued no matter which way it voted, the Berkeley City Council last night approved a proposal by a local pot club to move near a private elementary school and day-care center. The council had the option of altering an existing city law that prohibits pot clubs of being within 1,000 feet of public schools to also include private schools and daycare centers. But Mayor Tom Bates told the Express today that the council decided it had no choice but to okay the move, because the Berkeley Patients Group marijuana dispensary had submitted its proposal under the current law, so it would have been unfair to change it and apply it retroactively.
Monday, February 8, 2010
BREAKING NEWS: Journalists Refuse to Talk to D.A. About Secret Tapings
Media / Politics / People Robert Gammon — Mon, Feb 8, 2010 at 3:06 PM
Six journalists who were secretly taped by a former spokesman for Attorney General Jerry Brown refused to be interviewed in an independent investigation of the tapings, Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley told the Express today. O’Malley said that when her office tried to contact the reporters — including longtime San Francisco Chronicle journalist Carla Marinucci — they all referred her to their attorneys. The reporters’ attorneys then cited the state’s shield law for journalists as to why they would not be interviewed.
BREAKING NEWS: Report on A’s Move Delayed
Politics / Business / Sports Robert Gammon — Mon, Feb 8, 2010 at 2:30 PM
Major League Baseball has delayed for one week a report from a blue-ribbon panel on the Oakland A’s planned move to San Jose, according to Mayor Ron Dellums spokesman Paul Rose. Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig had been scheduled to receive the report today. However, it remains unclear when and whether the report will be made public.
Backer of Auto-Insurance Measure Has Ugly Record
Politics / Business Robert Gammon — Mon, Feb 8, 2010 at 10:32 AM
Mercury Insurance Company, the sponsor of a June ballot measure that would allow auto insurers to charge higher rates to low-income drivers, appears to have engaged in numerous illegal and discriminatory practices over the years, according to a report by the state Department of Insurance obtained by the Chron. It’s not clear whether Mercury will face any penalties from its actions, but consumer advocate Harvey Rosenfield told the newspaper that if voters approve Proposition 17, it will allow the insurance company to “legalize the kind of discriminatory surcharges that they were caught doing by investigators.”
Friday, February 5, 2010
BREAKING NEWS: Decision Expected Soon on Oakland A’s
Breaking News / Politics / People / Business / Sports Robert Gammon — Fri, Feb 5, 2010 at 10:37 AM
Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums revealed yesterday that a Major League Baseball task force is scheduled to present its findings Monday to Commissioner Bud Selig on the A’s proposed move San Jose. Dellums made the revelation during a speech to the Oakland chambers of commerce at the Oakland airport Hilton. However, it’s not clear when Selig will make the task force’s findings public or how much information he will reveal when he does.
Council Punts on Raising Donation Limits
Politics / People Robert Gammon — Fri, Feb 5, 2010 at 10:14 AM
An Oakland city council committee decided to refer a proposal from City Attorney John Russo to double campaign contribution limits in city elections to the Public Ethics Commission. Councilwomen Jane Brunner and Jean Quan, who is running for mayor this year and opposes Russo’s recommendation, also rebuffed an effort by Councilman Ignacio De La Fuente to schedule Russo’s recommendation to the full council in mid March.
Is Dellums Running for Mayor?
Politics / People Robert Gammon — Fri, Feb 5, 2010 at 9:43 AM
Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums gave a one-hour speech yesterday to the Oakland chambers of commerce that appeared to be either an effort to rehabilitate his reputation or to set the stage for a reelection bid. Throughout the wide-ranging speech at the Oakland airport Hilton, Dellums repeatedly touted his accomplishments in the past year, from garnering tens of millions in federal stimulus funds to his efforts to keep the A’s in Oakland and his decision to hire new police chief Anthony Batts, whom he described repeatedly as a “superstar.”
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Daily Planet Stung By Alleged Fraud
Media / People / Business Robert Gammon — Thu, Feb 4, 2010 at 10:24 AM
The Berkeley Daily Planet says that it and numerous other small East Bay companies were victimized by a payroll fraud scheme perpetrated by an East Oakland payroll business. In a front-page story today, Becky O’Malley, editor and co-owner of the Planet, states that Clickbooks.com ripped off the paper for “a minimum of tens of thousands with the possibility of hundreds of thousands of dollars,” before closing its doors and vanishing from the East Bay last month.
