Calls renewed to fix Berkeley's citizen boards

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 4/3/8 | Carolyn Jones

[SmithL]

Berkeley is finding that having its own foreign policy isn't cheap. The city's recent dustup with the U.S. Marine Corps has so far cost the city more than $200,000, while businesses say they've been slammed by related protests.

And that's on top of the $1 million the city spends annually on domestic and foreign policy matters hatched by its 45 citizen commissions, which outnumber those in virtually every other city in America and debate everything from regime change in Iran to the plight of nonneutered dogs.

"We in Berkeley have one of the top universities in the world, which brings in people from more than 100 countries. Delving into foreign policy is unavoidable," said Mike Sherman, a longtime member of the Peace and Justice Commission, which sparked an uproar two months ago with its resolution telling the Marine Corps that its recruiting center was not welcome in the city.

But some business owners, residents and officials say the Marines dispute, which brought international headlines and boycotts, is a perfect illustration of why Berkeley should spend less money on foreign policy and more on filling potholes.

City Councilman Gordon Wozniak put forth a plan last week to make the commissions more accountable. The plan, approved by the City Council, requires the commissions to post their full reports on the city's Web site, to be more diligent about posting their agendas and minutes and to pass along more background information to the City Council, especially on controversial items.

"I think it's out of hand," Wozniak said of Berkeley's commissions, most of which meet monthly and have two or three subcommittees that also meet regularly. "When we spend a lot of time debating things like the Marines issue, we're not spending time on the serious problems in this city, like fire station closures.

[SmithL]

A donnybrook ensued over Berkeley's Marine Corps recruitment center - resulting in a scuffle with protesters on Feb. 1 - after a city commission declared it unwelcome.

[SmithL]

Foreign Policy Ping

[Thrownatbirth]

"Do the commissions detract from what the city should be doing? Sure, they do. But we've had commissions for 30 years."

30 years ago, the city manager was a stoned hippie and can't remember why commissions were such a good idea at the time.

[Grampa Dave]

BZerkely, home for over 4 decades of hate America commies, socialists, fascists, black panthers and other worthless wastes of air.

I have been boycotting BZerkely since 1971. We don’t go there and never buy anything made in or marketed from BZerkley.

The 64 million $ question is where do these A$$holes get the money to do what they do. Who has been financing these scumbags for decades?

[strange1]

and the thousands of e-mails that have intermittently crashed the city's computer server.

Now this has promise...

[Michael.SF.]

on top of the $1 million the city spends annually on domestic and foreign policy matters hatched by its 45 citizen commissions,

I think they should appoint a commission to study the commission problem to find out if they need a commission to decide which commissions could be eliminated.

[Michael.SF.]

Now this has promise

Go for it!!

City of Berzerkely e-mail addresses

[444Flyer]

Thanks for the ping!

[USMC Brat]

Thanks for the Ping, SmithL. It's been another long day of slaving, and I'm just now getting to check FR.

"...and the thousands of e-mails that have intermittently crashed the city's computer server."

Somehow this strikes me as being very funny. I wonder if Berkeley will have to pay penalties to their server. Guess this means I need to RE-send several emails which may never have reached them the first time... YO BERKELEY, INCOMING... CRASH ... LOL!

"The council rescinded the resolution on Feb. 13"

This is the second time in just a few days that I've read media reports claiming the Council "rescinded the resolution," which is an absolute lie, or wishful thinking by spin doctors. Let's be straight about this, read the Feb 12 resolution for yourself. Points 1 and 3 were left in-tact. With all the publicity thier initial Jan 29 resolution garnered it would have been pointless to send the letter.

##

Reply Comment from a Marine in the Marine Corps Times (excerpt):

While they have decided not to send a letter to the recruiters and the Commandant of the Marines Corps, the message has already been sent by virtue of their vote and the publicity it received. In addition, the remaining item #3 of their recommendation gives the same implicit message to the Marines - "we don't want you."

"Recommendation:... #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."

It is in no way supportive of the Marine Corps, our troops, or the Marine Corps' rights when Berkeley actively "applauds" those who oppose the Marines.

##

"A San Diego resort developer said he canceled three contracts with Berkeley suppliers and has persuaded other businesses to follow suit. ... The boycotts have had no measurable effect on Berkeley's economy, which is generally healthy, said the city's economic development director, Michael Caplan."

Now THAT'S news. Other departments in Berkeley are complaining about the costs of protests. Businesses are complaining about loss of business due to protests. Eventually Berkeley will understand the "Costs of Protests." You just wait Caplan... it's just a matter of time before the Berkeley feels a "measurable effect" on the economy... hopefully soon.