Comment Archives: stories: Blogs: Seven Days
Re: “Union Workers at Castlewood Country Club Finally Get a New Contract”
This long, long struggle is a reminder of the importance of labor laws and the good-faith enforcement of those laws. If the NLRB had not found on behalf of these workers, it would have been even more difficult for them to win this contract. In this case, it took an employer particularly brazen in their willingness to break the law and a brave, skilled and extremely determined group of workers and their Union for the workers to prevail before the labor judge.
Unfortunately, many other employers break the law more cleverly, or succeed in confusing or intimidating their workforce. If more lawbreaking employers were caught, and their punishments more severe than just the price of doing illegal business, there would be more justice and a better balance of power at American workplaces.
Re: “Wednesday Must Read: Oakland Enviro Group Sues Over Toxic Nap Mats; New Bill Would Outlaw Lead Ammunition in California”
The bill to ban the use of lead bullets/ammo for all hunting in California will likely be introduced this Friday, Feb. 22 (the deadline). Hopefully, it will be amended to include a ban on the use of lead fishing sinkers, too. Many waterfowl suffer and die from ingesting lost lead sinkers, birds such as swans, cormorants, diving ducks, etc.
Nor is it only birds who suffer. Secondary lead poisoning causes havoc among scavengers such as bears, coyotes, badgers, skunks, eagles, vultures, ravens, crows, etc. Lead's gotta go, for hunting AND fishing. California would be the first, should this no-brainer of a bill become law. And the hunting/fishing community should be in the forefront of this fight, if they're truly the conservationists they claim to be.
ALL LEGISLATORS MAY BE WRITTEN C/O THE STATE CAPITOL, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814.
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Eric Mills, coordinator
ACTION FOR ANIMALS
Re: “Oakland Officials Accuse A’s Owner of Playing Games in the Media”
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Re: “Oakland Officials Accuse A’s Owner of Playing Games in the Media”
Based on the headline alone, rarely has there been a more classic instance of pot/kettle syndrome.
Re: “Army Base Tenants Close to Reaching Deal to Stay”
It seems obvious that Mr. Tagami is dragging his feet as a Property Manager to benefit his endeavors as a Master Developer. Isn't it a conflict of interest to have the Master Developer also act as the Property Manager? If it wasn't for the City of Oakland and the Port of Oakland stepping up and offering to negotiate, these small businesses would have to relocate completely. I'm still amazed that he succeeded in pushing the Oakland Film Center businesses off the property. I wonder what more havoc he'll reap among Oakland small businesses as he gains more momentum in the future?!
Re: “Oakland Officials Accuse A’s Owner of Playing Games in the Media”
All of this posturing by both sides doesn't do ANY GOOD for the fans, and seriously, it doesn't strengthen the City of Oakland's bargaining position either. If the city KNEW this letter was out there and in the media's hands in mid-December and they hadn't received it, WHY did they wait until today to make mention of it and choose to do so in the media themselves?
There's no question the A's have to negotiate, they have nowhere else to play for the next 3-5 years if they don't, so why isn't Oakland using this to their advantage instead of playing games?
It's fine to say "we'd rather negotiate with someone else", Hell I'd rather give MY TICKET $$ to someone else, too... but for now, we ALL have to play the hand we've been dealt. So... let's DO THIS THING!!
Re: “Army Base Tenants Close to Reaching Deal to Stay”
The City of Oakland has let Phil Tagami dictate the use of the OAB. Phil has never had the good will of Oakland businesses and community at heart, he has only had his own publicly financed projects and the income he makes from them at heart.
Phil has woed politicians from Jerry Brown and many other city officials into his selfish personal gains.
Thats the truth and Larry Reed has stated that in his own words.
WAKEUP OAKLAND!
Re: “Oakland ‘Bomb Plot’ Raises Questions of Entrapment”
Wow! That is all I can say about a threat that was not a threat! Wow...sounds like entrapment to me...I think the gauge for it is this..."Would a person have done the same crime without the suggestion from the law enforcement agency?" and if the answer is that he was not considering doing it but then did because of the what the law enforcement agency put forth...it would be entrapment...or something like that...(Just sayin it sounds suspicious)
Re: “It’s Time to Close the American Indian Public Charter Schools”
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Re: “On Violence, Oakland, and the Future of First Fridays”
Karen H, what are the guestimates for how much of an "economic engine" FF has been? From the news interviews with bar and restaurant owners in the area, it seemed as if many of them were grateful for FF jump starting their businesses and just as glad if it were to end now because even before the shooting it was discouraging efforts to make Uptown a high end restaurant destination.
Re: “Large Rally on Climate Change This Sunday”
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Re: “Tree Sitter Attempts to Stop Freeway Expansion”
thanks for covering this Mendocino County news, East Bay Express. Readers might also be interested that the California Farm Bureau joined the lawsuit against the bypass last August. The Farm Bureau isn't against a bypass per se, but is concerned about a precedent being set for inadequate review of loss of farmland for other projects, too. From the farm bureau's petition to join:
"Six years later, the total acreage of farmland affected by this project has grown to more than 2,000 acres, and there has been no meaningful environmental review of the cumulative effects of such a large-scale conversion of agricultural lands." Local ranchers are angry because Caltrans told them they could still graze cows on the lands Caltrans bought, but recently have been told no. Is this the first time the (conservative) Farm Bureau has joined in with a lawsuit with the Sierra Club? I expect so.
Re: “Alan Blueford's Family Is Still Looking for Answers”
What inconsistencies ? I read none in the above piece. I get that parents want to believe their children are in ocent but in this case it's after midnight, OPD rolls up, Blueford flees, is shot, a gun is found feet away. I'm sure I'm missing something but isn't this the basic plot? What does article enhance?
Re: “Coliseum Authority Approves $1 Million in Stadium Studies Despite Tenuous Support From Raiders”
This project is so pie in the sky, way above Oakland's ability, nobody's on board. Toot toot I hear the train leaving the station.
Re: “On Violence, Oakland, and the Future of First Fridays”
City Hall practices official tolerance of thug culture. We've seen it time and again, from throwing more money at the Youth UpRising program for its coddling of criminal rappers to handing over National Night Out venues to thugs.
In this tradition, one person who gets himself quoted as a spokesperson for First Fridays, Eric Arnold, proposed after the shooting to add (!) programming that appeals to thug culture. The fact that he could make this proposal and not get a public rebuke from mayor Quan nor any other City leader seals the point. Oakland government is dysfunctional when it comes to public safety.
Re: “Monday Must Read: Bay Area Traffic Now As Bad As LA's; Toxic Emissions Rise in the State; Asthma Rates Worsen”
What is equity? This is a great networking event to attend in San Francisco to learn about the topic and how it affects you. http://www.eventbrite.com/event/5059553260
Re: “Oakland ‘Bomb Plot’ Raises Questions of Entrapment”
How come the FBI dude doesn't get charged?
Re: “Oakland ‘Bomb Plot’ Raises Questions of Entrapment”
The FBI has done this before. Many times in New York. With the Underwear Bomber. With the Shoe Bomber. All to create the illusion that this country is under constant terrorist attacks and threats so they (TSA, DHS, FBI, ICE) can ask for more money, more militarized equipment, more civil and constitutional liberties stripping laws.
Re: “Oakland ‘Bomb Plot’ Raises Questions of Entrapment”
The FBI hire mentally ill patsies to create disasters to increase "security" to take away rights.
The CIA smuggles the drugs into the country.
Re: “Monday Must Read: Innocent Man from Oakland Freed from Prison; Lake Merritt Channel Partially Reopened”
As an Oakland taxpayer, I fully support paying Mr. Ross at least twice the legally mandated payout, as long as parasites like John Burris stay the hell out of it. I also support the vigorous prosecution of the cop and all those who put Mr. Ross in this position, because this will keep happening as long as they are not held accountable. And as a Santa Clara alum, I am way proud of the law school's Innocence Project.