Low Turnout for School Cut Protests--Why?

Got an e-mail from the Berkeley High PTA that only 5 people had signed up to ride a bus to Sacramento on April 24 to protest education budget cuts. Five? From Berkeley High? If BHS can't turn out protesters, maybe nobody can. The body politic seems to be in a state of denial on the huge proposed budget cuts--heck, how can they cut any more from California's education budget?

Are they going to have classes of 50 in Oakland schools? No sports programs in the Central Valley? Such cuts don't seem possible--do we really care so little about our children, the state's future and keeping a few extra bucks in our bank accounts and away from the state?

The answer is obviously YES to all three.

A recent study showed that unlike prior immigrant groups, Hispanic families were not climbing the economic ladder as time passed. The primary cause: the public schools were failing them. How can you escape poverty if you don't have a good education.

I have no doubt conservative proponents of no taxes will blame the immigrants' lack of resolve and culture for the lack of progress, and note that some other groups do escape poverty, but they are only rationalizing their own selfishness.

Every young person in California deserves a safe and clean learning environment with adequate attention from well-trained and motivated teachers. The opportunities created by a good public education should not only be given to affluent suburbanites who live in communities with considerable tax revenues.

Republicans devoted to keeping the poor poor

With Governer S. proposing huge education cuts and Republicans vowing not to raise taxes, the depressing result is that there may be dramatic cuts at schools across the state. California is 42nd in per pupil spending--which is particularly shameful when one considers the richness of our state and the high cost of living.

Here is a thoughtful analysis of the situation:

http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2008/01/arnolds_year_of.html

Even more shameful are the funding disparities between urban schools (Berkeley is somewhere betwee urban and suburban) and affluent suburban schools. Of course, families with money in urban environments send their kids to pricey private schools and their influential voices and activism are lost to the community.

Does any reasonable person not understand that cutting school funding leads to eventual increasing funding for prisons.

Code Pink Protesters are Cartoon Protesters

Code Pink (and the Tree-Sitters) are caricatures of the protest movements that made Berkeley famous around the world for championing change. Both groups protest symbols of issues (a few trees in the middle of campus and marine recruiting of college students) in locations that are convenient for them and maximize media coverage.

In order to follow the spirit of the Free Speech Movement, Code Pink should provide perspective and wisdom to the young men and women who think of the Marines as a legitimate and patriotic career choice. How do they think harassing a marine recruiter, who works with college students and recent graduates, aids in getting our troops out of Iraq? It doesn't. In fact, their matriarchal attitude is arrogant and condescending.

Code Pink shouting that the Marines kill babies only makes them look foolish—they remind me of the man who used to walk downtown SF and Berkeley with a picture of an aborted fetus to protest abortion. They inflame passions but don't address the legitimate concerns of persons effected by the issue.

At the end of the day, Code Pink (and the tree sitters) are simply public performers trying to inject some meaning into their lives. I hope it works for them, becuase I don't think it is working for most Berkeleyans.

Berkeley Football Back in the Post Season

Berkeley High School's football team returned to the playoffs in 2007 after six years of mediocrity. BHS plays in the ACCAL, a collection of schools that runs from Alameda through Pinole Valley.

Berkeley is the biggest high school by far and its football teams are usually harder, bigger, stronger faster than the teams from Alameda, Encinal (soon to leave the league), El Cerrito, Hercules, Pinole Valley, Richmond and De Anza. However, the football program has lacked discipline on the field or in the classroom for many years. The picture at the left is of a pre-season jamboree at Pitsburg H.S.

This year, BHS hired Alonzo Carter away from McClymonds in Oakland to rejuvenate the program and get its boys to study and stay in school. Carter calls himself the "real coach Carter" and his record at Mac was fantastic--several OAL championships and almost 60 students with scholarships in his 9 years there. Unfortunately for Mac, they couldn't give Carter a full-time job and BHS could. Now, Carter not only supervises more than 120 boys on the football team, but works on campus to provide security and guidance during the day.

Football provides motivation to keep more than 100 boys who have limited interest otherwise to stay in school. Football also teaches many boys without strong family units to work hard and to work with others.

The Public Commons

East Bay Daily News and Oakland Tribune (same story) quoted me on Mayor Bates' proposal to push the homeless into obtaining services and paying for them:

Mayor's homeless crackdown plan draws fire
By Doug Oakley / Daily News Staff Writer
Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates' plan to clean Berkeley's streets of problems associated with chronic homelessness is expected to be challenged tonight by critics who say it comes down too hard.

Berkeley Provides Lots of Arts for the Old

The City is creating a wonderful Downtown Arts District, filled with theaters and music clubs featuring Jazz and Folk music.

However, unlike the past--there isn't much for youth culture. Of course, young people are loud.

Places like Jupiter, with its pleasant jazz, yummy beers and outdoor patio, are great. But, if you are a young band, playing any kind of music oriented toward young people (hip-hop or rock), you better find a gig in San Francisco or Oakland.

Of course, there is the venerable Gilman Street, which seems to be more a clubhouse for disenfranchised teen punks, and other old-time institutions like La Pena, Blakes and Starry Plough. These venues seem to be out of the past--a darn good past, don't get me wrong-but you have to leave Berkeley if you want to see music based in 2007.

What is a Dog Park??

Ohlone Dog Park

Do they get slides and a jungle gym? No, but they do get a place to run around and sniff each other's butts! Man, dogs love to stick their noses in each other's rears!


Ohlone Dog Park in Berkeley was created in 1983--acknowledged as the first in the country and probably world. I remember when the long strip of land was called the Hearst Strip (the street runs parallel) and it was a long abandoned railroad right of way. Funky.

A tribute to the founder, Doris Richards, Jet Likes it!

Apparently, a group of People's Park refugees claimed the area--I suppose they needed another place to sleep and deal drugs?--but a group of dog lovers came up with this idea. Led by Doris Richards, an active group was formed. Similarly, the neighbors have been trying to keep the barking dogs quiet for years.

I love taking our two dogs to Ohlone. It is close to home and they really seem to enjoy the sniffing and running. When they return home they seem happy and tired. And quiet.

Happy Dogs on the Drive home

Many scoffed at the attention given to dogs, by giving them a park. Including me. However, the park helps create a community for humans to hang out with like-minded folks and a place for the canines to have a little fun.