Posted on 02/01/2008 10:19:44 PM PST by SmithL
Thanks, TChad. I wonder when it’s going back up.
I have a city attorney friend - I’m sure she’s tired of being asked about this, but I think she’llgive me the straight scoop.
This is unbelievably anti-American. I will not spend a penny in Berkeley, and I’m nearby, too.
Actually I like Texas, a LOT! If I couldn’t live here or in Arizona, I’d go to Texas!
They are loud and get a LOT of money from Soros. Check out this website:
http://www.discoverthenetworks.org
They are everywhere. We have a few liberals here but they are diehard ones.
Sounds like we need to start a boycott of Berkley businesses. Does anyone know what they are?
“CAPT USAR in Germany” - otherwise known as “the Elvis Tour”.
Well, I’m pleased to report that respect for men in uniform is alive an well in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. I was having lunch with the in-laws at Andiamo’s and a MI-ARNG honor guard in dress blues walks in and is seated near us. I couldn’t even get up to inquire, as a line formed by other patrons wanting to thank them for their service.
So, I waited until they were well into dessert before going over to thank them myself. I found out one was from my old MP unit, but I forgot to ask what the occasion was (hoping now it wasn’t a funeral but I didn’t get that impression).
You have to ask, "Our side?"
Subversion is the correct term per AR-318-12.
If you hate California, maybe you should come visit us over in New Jersey, aka Sopranostan. Governor Corzine would love for you to bring your weapons too! ;-)
OK, I found the agenda for the City Council meeting from 1/29, and is pasted below the link. I also saved the staff reports for these items. Originally, I was just looking for the two items (Recruiting office and Code Pink parking space *and* waiver of $36 sound permit fee - is Soros running out of money?!), but there are some others of interest as well:
THese items started at #12! of the regular agenda items. I guess they’re angling for low attendance late in the evening.
http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/ContentDisplay.aspx?id=11042
12. Marine Recruiting Office in Berkeley (PDF)
From: Peace and Justice Commission
Recommendation:
Direct the City Attorney to investigate and report back to Council within 60 days on City options for enforcing Chapter 13.28 of the Berkeley Municipal Code, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, with respect to military recruiting offices in Berkeley;
Direct the City Manager to send letters to the Marine Corps Recruiting Station at 64 Shattuck Avenue and to General James T. Conway, Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, advising them that the Marine recruiting office is not welcome in our city, and if recruiters choose to stay, they do so as uninvited and unwelcome intruders;
Encourage all people to avoid cooperation with the Marine Corps recruiting station, and applaud residents and organizations such as Code Pink, that may volunteer to impede, passively or actively, by nonviolent means, the work of any military recruiting office located in the City of Berkeley.
Financial Implications: See report
Contact: Manuel Hector, Commission Secretary, 981-5100
13. Withdrawal of California National Guard Troops from Iraq (PDF)
From: Peace and Justice Commission
Recommendation: Call upon the Governor of California to demand that the President and Congress take immediate steps to withdraw California National Guard troops from Iraq now, and urge the California State Assembly and Senate to introduce legislation calling upon the prompt return of the California National Guard from Iraq.
Financial Implications: None
Contact: Manuel Hector, Commission Secretary, 981-5100
Council Consent Items
14. Enforcement Of Lying In Public Spaces And Implementation Policy (PDF)
From: Councilmembers Maio and Capitelli
Recommendation: Refer to City Manager the request that staff review and suggest implementation of a policy that would require no (or low) enforcement of (647j) at night if no shelter beds are available, and if available enforcement would involve offering a shelter bed and would include transportation to the bed funded via taxi scrip for those homeless individuals who opt for a bed.
Financial Implications: To be determined
Contact: Linda Maio, Councilmember, District 1, 981-7110
15. Permit Waiver and Parking Space Designation Request for Code Pink (PDF)
From: Councilmembers Maio and Anderson
Recommendation: Approve the waiver of a sound permit ($36) every Wednesday from 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm for the next six (6) months (February 6, 2008 - July 30, 2008) and designate one (1) parking space on Shattuck directly in front of the Military Recruiting Station at 64 Shattuck Square for Code Pink. It is recommended that Council approve the permanent tagging of the one parking spot and designate it with signage “No Parking from 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm every Wednesday,” for six (6) months from approval of this request, and that Code Pink be allowed permission for one table and chairs that may not obstruct the 10-foot access for public-right-of-way.
Financial Implications: See report
Contact: Linda Maio, Councilmember, District 1, 981-7110
P!ss on ‘em! So only liberals have rights? They are traitors.
I used to party with my best friend in Barnegat Light. Have a few beers, meet some girls at the shore and just have fun. It was really funny to hear really attractive girls speak with that Jersey accent.
My buddy moved to Florida and the closest I'll ever get is probably Philly, and the chances of that aren't very good either. Even though watching that statue of William Penn urinating when it rains is pretty funny. (illusion of water streaming off the statue) oh and the "mummers" parade was strange as well.
I’ve copied the text of the Peace and Justice Commission’s Report on this. It was on their Consent Calendar, which means that there was no opposition or controversy to the matter. It’s long, but it’s important:
***
Peace and Justice Commission
CONSENT CALENDAR
January 29, 2008
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Peace and Justice Commission
Submitted by:Steve Freedkin, Chairperson
Subject: Marine Recruiting Office in Berkeley
RECOMMENDATION
(1) Direct the City Attorney to investigate and report back to Council within 60 days on
City options for enforcing Chapter 13.28 of the Berkeley Municipal Code, prohibiting
discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, with respect to military recruiting
offices in Berkeley; (2) direct the City Manager to send letters to the Marine Corps
Recruiting Station at 64 Shattuck Avenue and to General James T. Conway,
Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, advising them that the Marine
recruiting office is not welcome in our city, and if recruiters choose to stay, they do so as
uninvited and unwelcome intruders; and (3) encourage all people to avoid cooperation
with the Marine Corps recruiting station, and applaud residents and organizations such
as Code Pink, that may volunteer to impede, passively or actively, by nonviolent means,
the work of any military recruiting office located in the City of Berkeley.
FISCAL IMPACTS OF RECOMMENDATION
Staff time to research the City’s options for enforcing Chapter 13.28 of the Berkeley
Municipal Code, discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, with respect to military
recruiting offices in Berkeley.
CURRENT SITUATION AND ITS EFFECT
The United States has a history of launching illegal, immoral and unprovoked wars of
aggression and the Bush Administration launched the most recent of those wars in Iraq
and is threatening the possibility of war in Iran. These wars have produced catastrophic
loss of human life, both civilian and military, as well as physically maiming and
deforming and psychologically destroying countless numbers of civilians and military
personnel.
The United States Marine Corps is being used as one of the means of perpetrating and
prolonging illegal, unconstitutional and unnecessary wars of the United States. Military
recruiters are sales people known to lie to and seduce minors and young adults into
contracting themselves into military service with false promises regarding jobs, job training, education and other benefits. Many enlisted persons never see the benefits
they are promised and find out they are not eligible for the educational benefits due to
loopholes and they did not receive the training promised or it did not qualify them for
jobs outside the military.
The United States military discriminates by refusing to hire gays, lesbians, or bisexuals.
By ordinance (BMC § 13.28.030; Ord. 5106-NS § 1 (part), 1978), the City of Berkeley
prohibits such discrimination; requires employers to post a notice that discrimination on
the basis of sexual orientation is prohibited by law; and provides for a fine of up to $50
per offense for failure to do so.
BACKGROUND
At the meeting of January 7, 2008, the Peace and Justice Commission approved the
following motion: M/S/C (Meola/sorgen) that the Council of the City of Berkeley approve
the following recommendation:
WHEREAS, the Peace & Justice Commission advises the City Council on all matters
relating to the City of Berkeley’s role in issues of peace and social justice [Berkeley
Municipal Code (BMC) Chapter 369.070]; and
WHEREAS, the United States has a history of launching illegal, immoral and
unprovoked wars of aggression and the Bush Administration launched the most recent
of those wars in Iraq and is threatening the possibility of war in Iran; and
WHEREAS, the United States armed forces, including the Marine Corps, explicitly
refuse to hire openly non-heterosexual individuals, and will discharge an individual in
their employ “who engages in, attempts to engage in, has a propensity to engage in, or
intends to engage in homosexual acts” [10 USC § 654(b)(2), “Policy Concerning
Homosexuality in the Armed Forces”]; and
WHEREAS, Berkeley Municipal Code § 13.28, “Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual
Orientation,” provides that “It shall be an unlawful employment practice for an employer to
fail or refuse to hire, or to discharge any individual, or otherwise to discriminate against
any individual with respect to compensation, terms, conditions or privileges of
employment on the basis of such individual’s sexual orientation” [BMC § 13.28(A)(1)],
and applies the same standard to employment agencies and job-training programs
[BMC § 13.28(A)(3), § 13.28(A)(5)]; and
WHEREAS, these wars have produced catastrophic loss of human life, both civilian and
military, as well as physically maiming and deforming and psychologically destroying
countless numbers of civilians and military personnel; and
WHEREAS, the people of the City of Berkeley have long voiced their stand for peace
and against unnecessary wars; and support people following their consciences to do
what is morally and ethically right to resist illegitimate authority; and
WHEREAS, the United States Marine Corps is being used as one of the means of
perpetrating and prolonging illegal, unconstitutional and unnecessary wars of the United
States; and
WHEREAS, military recruiters are sales people known to lie to and seduce minors and
young adults into contracting themselves into military service with false promises
regarding jobs, job training, education and other benefits; and
WHEREAS, many enlisted persons never see the benefits they are promised and find
out they are not eligible for the educational benefits due to loopholes and they did not
receive the training promised or it did not qualify them for jobs outside the military; and
WHEREAS, the people of Berkeley should want the Marine Corps present near
Berkeley High School, Berkeley City College, and University of California no more than
they would want other violent influences downtown.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Peace & Justice Commission
recommends that the Council of the City of Berkeley direct the City Attorney to
investigate and report back to Council within 60 days on City options for enforcing
Chapter 13.28 of the Berkeley Municipal Code, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of
sexual orientation, with respect to military recruiting offices in Berkeley.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Berkeley direct the City
Manager to send letters to the Marine Corps Recruiting Station at 64 Shattuck Avenue
and to General James T. Conway, Commandant of the United States Marine Corps,
advising them that the Marine recruiting office is not welcome in our city, and if
recruiters choose to stay, they do so as uninvited and unwelcome intruders.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Berkeley encourage all
people to avoid cooperation with the Marine Corps recruiting station, and applaud
residents and organizations such as Code Pink, that may volunteer to impede, passively
or actively, by nonviolent means, the work of any military recruiting office located in the
City of Berkeley.
Ayes: Unanimous; Absent: Brody, Cohen, Litman, Seaton, Sherman.
CITY MANAGER
The City Manager takes no position on the recommendations of the Commission.
However, it is unlikely that the City has the ability to enforce Chapter 13.28 against the
United States military.
CONTACT PERSON
Steve Freedkin, Chairperson, Peace and Justice Commission, (510) 595-4626
Robert Meola, Peace and Justice Commission, (510) 644-1102
Manuel Hector Jr., Secretary, Peace and Justice Commission, (510) 981-5110
Here is the link for the meeting video.
Use the “Jump To” drop-down menu under the screen to go to “Public Comment” ... but it’s not itemized under each item number, as it should.
When I find the item tomorrow, I’ll post the time marker to make it easier.
So, they are pulling this stunt under the pretext that the military discriminates against homosexuals. I wonder if that has been tried elsewhere. Sounds like a legally risky strategy, but I am not an attorney.
They are condoning interference with the normal operation of a legal business. They also seem to be trying to interfere with U.S. foreign policy, if not aiding the enemy in wartime.
Let's hope for some serious legal retaliation.
The PDF staff report is linked from the agenda (which I pasted in that long post) - the fiscal impact is staff time to research enforcing the non-sexual discrimination section of the Berkeley Municipal Code with respect to the recruiting office.
The City Manager also says that there is not much chance of being successful here...
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