Police Say Mayor Stole Newspapers, Mayor Apologizes, Pre-Election Day Theft (Berkeley)

dailycal ^

[TheAngryClam]

Over a month ago, the UC Berkeley conservative magazine, The California Patriot, broke this story. Of course, it was dismissed as lies.

Vindication is sweet, though.

[TheAngryClam]

The thing about Berkeley is that there are two camps in city politics, refered to as the Moderates and the Progressives. Now, the Moderates are vaguely between Clinton and Ted Kennedy, and the Progressives are your assorted collection of Green Party members, unreconstructed Stalinists, and other far-left types.

Bates, needless to say, is from the second camp.

[TheAngryClam]

Actually, the Daily Californian isn't. In 1971, it purchased itself from the University, and has been a private organization ever since, leasing only the name from the school. It's about to go bankrupt, though.

[1rudeboy]

Imagine, for a moment, the uproar if . . . heck, why do I even bother? You folks know what I was about to write.

[TroutStalker]

Shaking head bump.

[Jonathon Spectre]

"He was very exhausted from the election, getting very little sleep, and he just blew it," Spring said. "He let his emotions take over."

It's a blessing to have a calm, cool chief executive.

[scholar]

As an elected official he should have the 'book' thrown at him as an example.

In my world, any official running for public office who was caught in such a blatant offense would be off the ballot!--but that is apparently just my fantasy!

[afraidfortherepublic]

I think the Daily Cal ought to bring charges against him. He should have to pay a heavy fine + reimburse the newspaper for the cost of the issue, and perform 200 hours of community service (which doesn't count any time he spends in the duties of his office.) He should also have to apologize to the University and the Community.

[TheAngryClam]

The Daily Cal can do the following:

1) bring a civil suit against him, for the cost of the papers, plus any other damages (including punitive) that they can prove/convince a jury of.

AND

2) the UCPD has referred the matter to the Alameda County district attorney, suggesting that a petty theft charge is in order. Petty theft is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months in county jail, or both.

I'm not sure if the city of Berkeley has any elected official conduct codes; my guess is that, as long as that conduct is not "conservative," they do not.

[afraidfortherepublic]

IMO, both actions should be taken. This worm should be stopped in his tracks. Of course in my day, the only people who stole the entire production of the Daily Cal were Stanford pranksters who substituted their own issue. It was Big Game Week, of course.

[altair]

"He can say it was like Michael Jackson-it was one moment of weakness, like when he dangled his kid over the balcony," said Councilmember Betty Olds.

Throwing away a bunch of stupid newspapers is equivalent to dangling a child over a balcony?