Comment Archives: stories: Special Sections: Insider's Guide
Re: “Jack London Square”
Great article Rachel. Fascinating to note that for all the tens (if not hundreds) of millions that have been poured into the Square by big name developers and the City it's almost exclusively the independent restaurants, coffee houses and wineries that have made this neighborhood a real destination. As one well known architect and planner said at City Hall "But there's not Square there!". Precisely. Hence it's called the Jack London District by its residents and that's where you need to visit, not Jack London Square.
Re: “Where to Drink and Be Seen”
I thought you said East Bay, but this is almost exclusively Oakland/Berkeley/Alameda. Time to expand your horizons or redefine your name. There's so much more to the East Bay.
And FYI...Becketts is gone.
Re: “Broadway and Grand”
Companies do give out samples. They are looking to put their products in potential consumers' hands. They wouldn't do it if it didn't work one of the place that always worked is "123 Get Samples" search online
Re: “What Every Student Should Know About Cal”
UCB Chancellor Birgeneau Loss of Credibility, Trust
The UCB budget gap has grown to $150 million, and still the Chancellor is spending money that isn't there on expensive outside consultants. His reasons range from the need for impartiality to requiring the "innovative thinking, expertise, and new knowledge" the consultants would bring.
Does this mean that the faculty and management of a world-class research and teaching institution lack the knowledge, impartiality, innovation, and professionalism to come up with solutions? Have they been fudging their research for years? The consultants will glean their recommendations from interviewing faculty and the UCB management that hired them; yet solutions could be found internally if the Chancellor were doing the job HE was hired to do. Consultant fees would be far better spent on meeting the needs of students.
There can be only one conclusion as to why creative solutions have not been forthcoming from the professionals within UCB: Chancellor Birgeneau has lost credibility and the trust of the faculty as well as of the Academic Senate leadership that represents them. Even if the faculty agrees with the consultants' recommendations - disagreeing might put their jobs in jeopardy - the underlying problem of lost credibility and trust will remain.
Re: “Hayward/San Leandro”
What a wonderful well written and interesting article. It makes me wish that I was there right now !!
Re: “PROFILE: Chuck Steadham”
i go to flashback every week... chuckles? have i seen you there?
Re: “Laurel District”
And don't forget the fabulous Laurel Bookstore & Laurel Hardware.
Re: “Laurel District”
Correct Link for Divinity Voice Music and Arts: http://aspirebettercommunity.com/DivinityV…
Re: “Hayward/San Leandro”
Go SweetFingers Jamaican Restaurant! Best kept secret in San Leandro. Fun, Fun, Fun.....!
Re: “Hayward/San Leandro”
This list would be remiss to neglect Zocalo Coffeehouse. Wide variety of coffee and tea, mighty friendly staff, and a comfortable space with sofas and roomy tables. Also showcases local artists on the walls. Go there! 645 Bancroft @ Dutton, San Leandro, CA 94577. 510-569-0102.
Re: “PROFILE: René de Guzman”
Looking forward to the new galleries and the new vision...
Re: “PROFILE: Briana Miller and Steve Loewinsohn”
Nice writeup! But the link to the blog is broken. It should be:
http://www.broadwaytobancroft.com/
Re: “What Every Student Should Know About Cal”
Why does one of the top universities in the world have to spend $3 million of taxpayer money for consultants to do what should be done internally by UCB Chancellor Birgeneau?
Who teaches auditors how to audit? Do UC professors not have the knowledge to perform what they teach?
Having firsthand knowledge of consulting, I know one cardinal rule, "Don't bite the hand that pays you."
In a nutshell, we have a high-paid, skilled UCB Chancellor who is unable or unwilling to do the job he is paid to do. Why do we wonder that UC and California are in a financial crisis!
I'm sure taxpayers would not object to the $3 million payout if the money is reimbursed by taking money from the UCB Chancellor's salary over the next 10 years.
Stop the spending of $3,000,000 on consultants by President Yudof and the UCB Chancellor and do the job impartially and internally These days ever dollar counts
Contact Assemblymember Carter 916.319.2062
Respectfully
Re: “What Every Student Should Know About Cal”
University of California President Yudof Approves $3,000,000 to Outsource UCB Chancellor’s Job
The UC President has a UCB Chancellor that should do the high paid job he is paid for instead of hiring an East Coast consulting firm to fulfill his responsibilities. ‘World class’ smart executives like Chancellor Birgeneau need to do the analysis, hard work and make the difficult decisions of their executive job!
Where do consulting firms like Bain ($3,000,000 consultants) get their recommendations?
From interviewing the senior management that hired them and will be approving their monthly consultant fees and expense reports. Remember the nationally known auditing firm who said the right things and submitted recommendations that senior management wanted to hear and fooled government oversight agencies and the public?
Mr. Birgeneau's executive officer performance management responsibilities include "inspiring innovation and leading change." This involves "defining outcomes, energizing others at all levels and ensuring continuing commitment." Instead of demonstrating his capacity to fulfill his executive accountabilities, Mr. Birgeneau outsourced them. Doesn't he engage University of California and University of California Berkeley (UCB) people at all levels to help examine the budget and recommend the necessary trims? Hasn't he talked to Cornell and the University of North Carolina - which also hired Bain -- about best practices and recommendations that might apply to UCB cuts?
No wonder the faculty and staff are angry and suspicious. Three million dollars is a high price for Californians to pay when a knowledgeable ‘world-class’ Chancellor is not doing his job.
Please help save $3,000,000 for teaching our students and request that the UC President require the UCB Chancellor to fulfill his executive job accountabilities!
Re: “A Panoply of Cultures”
Hey! You forgot to mention:
FRENCH Bakery:
La Farine, 3411 Fruitvale Ave. (between Macarthur Blvd & Sloan St)
(see: http://www.lafarine.com/contact.html) our local bakery (YUM!)
INDIAN Cuisine:
Shaan Restaurant, 3434 Fruitvale Ave. bet. Sloan & MacArthur
(see: http://www.yelp.com/biz/shaan-north-and-south-indian-cuisine-oakland) ...It's usually yummy - still working out the-new-restaurant-kinks, me thinks.
JAPANESE Cuisine:
Nama Sushi Restaurant 3400 Fruitvale Ave. adjacent to Farmer Joe’s grocery. (see:http://dimondites.com/front-page/nama-japanese-cuisine.html)
...and coming in October: OAKTOBERFEST-in-the-Dimond! Fruitvale @ MacArthur
(see: http://oaktoberfest.org/abouttheevent.aspx)
Re: “A Gold Mine of History”
Ethel Merman and the Boredoms are recording again? Awesome!
Re: “Produce and Punks”
I, for one, plan to slow down and smell the metaphorical roses (rubber and otherwise) on San Pablo!
Re: “A Panoply of Cultures”
Your directions should read Fruitvale to School st. and International Blvd. to High St.
Re: “How and Where to Blow Your Cash”
so does this mean that the antiques street in hayward is no more?
Re: “40th Street”
I strongly agree with this article. I have had quite a few friends live around there and I have been visiting this neighborhood for 3-4 years now and there has definitely been an up-tick in activity. I hope to see the 40th street corridor continue to prosper and evolve. We need more streets like this in Oakland.