Calendar
Please check here for updates as to court support times or cancellations on Tuesday for three comrades arrested Saturday night.
There are 3 people who got arrested Saturday night who were not cited and released. They have arraignments on Tuesday at Wiley Manuel and 9am in 107 and 2pm in 112.
OccupyForum Presents…
Pia Mancini on DemocracyOSÂ
(Democracy Operating System)
Information, discussion & community!
Monday Night Forum!
Occupy Forum is an opportunity for open and respectful dialogue
on all sides of these critically important issues!
“Occupy Wall Street. Arab Spring. Greek Riots. We’ve been experiencing a great crisis of representation these past decades, regardless of our location, ethnicity or culture. The political system insists in excluding most of us from the spaces where the decisions are made that impact our lives. The internet has changed everything: the way we share and consume culture, how we engage in commerce, and how we communicate with others. But the internet has failed to change in one key area of our lives: politics. Democracy is in great need of a serious upgrade.
“We are working on a user-friendly, open-source, vote and debate tool, crafted for parliaments, parties and decision-making institutions that will allow citizens to get informed, join the conversation and vote on topics, just how they want their representatives to vote. A tool that will transform the noise we create during protests into a signal that has a clear, direct and strong impact on the political system. Our vision is that DemocracyOS will become the operating system of a more open and participatory government.”
— DemocracyOs.org (Go to www.DemocracyOS.org for more information.)
Come hear Pia Mancini speak via Skype from Buenos Aires, Argentina, about the
exciting new development called DemocracyOS (Democracy Operating System).
Since Buenos Aires is 5 hours ahead of us, it will be 11pm there when we
start here at 6pm, so please be on time!
Study up beforehand (or after the fact) at these sites:
Link to Huffington Post article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/thierry-
dufay/democracy-20-the-power-of_b_5964188.html
Link to Wired Magazine article: Â http://www.wired.com/2014/05/democracy-os/
Link to Pia Mancini TED talk on YouTube: Â https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=NXfYNdapq3Q
Preview YouTube video Pia Mancini: How to upgrade democracy for the Internet era
Pia Mancini: How to upgrade democracy for the Internet era
THE POSTAL SERVICE HAD THE BERKELEY POST OFFICE “UNDER CONTRACT.” !!!!!!!!!!!
THE POSTAL SERVICE WANTED TO SELL THE POST OFFICE TO HUDSON-MCDONALD DEVELOPMENT GROUP. HUDSON-MCDONALD BACKED OUT OF THE DEAL LAST WEEK.
THE CITY OF BERKELEY SUED THE POST OFFICE TO STOP THE SALE. A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER WAS IN PLACE UNTIL DECEMBER 17th, BUT WAS LIFTED BY THE JUDGE WHEN HUDSON WITHDREW.
There was a hearing in Federal Court on December 11th.
Come learn about continuing developments and help us plan our next steps in opposition to this theft of our public commons.
Get an overview of the sale announcement here.
Here’s a good more general overview piece.
Davic Rovics gave a concert on the Post Office steps recently. Check out pictures and video of him playing.
Also CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE. and the Save the Berkeley Post Office website, and First they Came for the Homeless Facebook for updates.
BPOD is an offshoot of Strike Debt Bay Area, which itself is an offshoot of Occupy Oakland and a chapter of the national Strike Debt movement, which is an offshoot of Occupy Wall Street.
This week we’re peeling back the mysteries of how banks work – or don’t – in the real world.
Chapter 3 of Tom Sgouros’ Checking the Banks.
RALLY AND MARCH TO THE BERKELEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, DEC. 16, 5:00PM
GATHER AT BANCROFT + TELEGRAPH
Berkeley City Council Meeting 7:00PM @ Longfellow Middle School (1500 Derby St. in Berkeley)
We condemn the police riot last Saturday, December 6 on protesters and students fighting for justice for Michael Brown. We hold the Mayor, the Berkeley Police Department, and the City Council responsible for the brutal policy of attacking civil rights protesters. We demand dropping all of the charges against protesters and reject the Ferguson Grand Jury’s racist decision of “no indictment” against Officer Darren Wilson for the murder of Michael Brown. Jail and indict Darren Wilson and all killer cops now!
View the “Public Tribunal for Truth & Action: Justice for Michael Brown” that BAMN held Dec. 10 in St. Louis, MO with Michael Brown’s friends, family, and local Ferguson activists and organizers:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLXtsxFx6QY
DEMANDS:
• Jail Darren Wilson NOW!
• Drop All Charges Against Civil Rights Protesters
• Stop the Racist Attacks Against Black and Latina/o and Other Minority Youth
• Jail the Killer Cops: A Badge is Not a License to Kill
• End the Policy of Cover-up and Blaming the Victim
• Abolish the Grand Jury System
• Create More Jobs and Educational Opportunities. Establish New School Desegregation Programs
• Down with the New Jim Crow! Down with the New Police State!
• Build the Independent, Integrated, and Youth-led New Civil Rights Movement
• No Justice in Ferguson. No Peace Anywhere!
Black Lives Matter in Berkeley : Emergency Community Rally to end racial profiling and the militarization of the Berkeley Police Department.
Berkeley Copwatch is hosting a rally at MLK/Civic Center Park (MLK & Center St.) at 5:30pm on December 16th prior to the final city council meeting of the year. We will be holding healing space for police brutality survivors, protestors, and community organizers to share their stories and strategic visions. We will be centering Black and Brown voices at this event.
If you are interested in speaking or need more info, please call (510) 548-0425 or send us an email at berkeleycopwatch@yahoo.com
Please share this event!
“After hearing from people injured by police batons and projectiles, and those who suffered from tear gas during several days of protests in Berkeley, the Police Review Commission voted unanimously Wednesday night to ask the City Council to temporarily ban tear gas, the use of projectiles and over-the-shoulder baton swings as crowd-control measures, until an investigation has been completed.”
All out to the City Council meeting Tuesday the 16th at 7pm!
Two articles on the Police Review Commission action Wednesday night:
http://www.dailycal.org/2014/12/11/police-review-commission-supports-restricting-use-tear-gas-crowd-control-techniques/
http://www.insidebayarea.com/breaking-news/ci_27118581/berkeley-panel-seeking-temporary-police-ban-tear-gas
NOTE: the meeting is not at Old City Hall. It has been moved to Longfellow Middle School to accommodate expected large turnout.
Please come out tomorrow to Wiley Manuel at 9am for a court hearing in Dept 104. Let’s support our comrades!
I just received this message: #OUSD #WalkOut is scheduled for this Wednesday. #Oakland. pic.twitter.com/4rDq0FcEZz
— Pendarvis H. (@OGpenn) December 15, 2014
Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson is leading an effort to allow members of the community to vent their frustrations following non-indictments against white police officers who killed black men alleged of crimes in Ferguson, Mo. and New York City. Cases of police brutality have also occurred in the Bay Area over the years adding a strong local link to the anger felt all over the country.
Members of the public can participate in the town hall this Wednesday being called “A community meeting with elected officials and community leaders on solving the strained relationship between law enforcement and our communities.”
0 Telegraph Ave, Oakland.
Alameda Co. pub.defenders holding #BlackLivesMatter rally tmw while wearing gloves to signify "Hands up, don't shoot" pic.twitter.com/dX8DYGVZnY
— Henry K. Lee (@henryklee) December 17, 2014
There are lots of important reasons to protest at the CPUC, not only ‘Smart’ meters, but also Diablo Canyon’s nuclear power plant, massive toxic dumping by PG&E (remember Hinkley, Hunters Point, and many more), AT&T’s push to get rid of landlines (an accessibility issue), gasline explosions due to neglect, etc etc etc.
These issues are about environmental health, community defense, disability justice, and labor. The people who are most immediately impacted by the decisions of the CPUC are the workers forced to implement them.
For example, this former PG&E meter reader was fired for refusing to be silent about the fact that ‘Smart’ meters are a fire hazard, and lays out the financial reality that these meters are actually more expensive than meter readers, who were the only people working for the utility who regularly checked for gas leaks like the one that preceded the San Bruno explosion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnxIoItNUek
One of the victims who died in a fire caused by ‘Smart’ meters was Larry Nikkel, of Vacaville, a member of Stationary Engineers Local 39: http://stopsmartmeters.org/2013/06/21/when-smart-meters-kill-the-story-of-larry-nikkel-details-emerge-of-vacaville-ca-smart-meter-fire-death/
Please mobilize your friends and comrades to come out on Thursday – Peevey’s last day – and bring your friends and your own grievances against this supposed watchdog agency that acts more like a lapdog of the corporate utilities. Tell Peevey: Good Riddance!
Details below.
PRESS CONFERENCE/ DEMONSTRATION AT CPUC IN SAN FRANCISCO OPPOSING “SMART” METER POLICIES AND GENERAL CORRUPTION
California Public Utilities Commission
Thursday, December 18 8:30 AM
Van Ness at McAllister, San Francisco
Give CPUC President Michael Peevey the send-off into retirement that he deserves after a dozen years of corruption and complicity with corporate utilities.
Protest the CPUC’s proposed decisions in the ‘smart’ meter opt out proceedings. Show strength in unity against their proposals that:
• Ignore serious public safety hazards including toxic injuries, fires, homelessness, violations of privacy, higher bills, loss of meter readers, and no promised energy savings.
• Continue to impose coercive extortion opt out fees
• Violate laws, and deny customer and disability rights
• Prohibit opt-outs for communities, apartment buildings, and businesses
• Reward utility companies with millions $$$ more for smart grid failings
Join us in demanding that the CPUC:
• Reject the proposed decisions
• Rescind and refund ‘opt out’ extortion fees
• Halt the ‘smart’ meter program
Bring any other past or present grievances against the CPUC (toxic dumping, nuclear plants, gas line explosions, accessibility, public power, etc.)
We will be raising our demands both outside before the meeting, as well as inside. Please come prepared to make some noise and be seen. Wear black if you can. Rain or shine.
For more information about the proposed decisions, go to these links:
The proposed decisions would (as summarized by the EMF Safety Network):
- Give 37 million dollars to the Investor Owned Utilities (PG&E, SCE, SDG&E, and So Cal Gas) for providing the opt-out program.
- Adopt permanent fees for residential customers who “do not wish to have a wireless smart meter.”
- Continue the same interim fees of $75 initial fee plus $10/month, and $10 initial fee plus $5/month for low income.
- Local governments and multi-unit dwellings may not collectively opt out of smart meter installations.
- Charging an opt-out fee does not violate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
- They will not address health and safety impacts in this decision.
- Assess fees on a per location basis, for example if you have two or more meters on your property, that will be one fee, per utility company.
- If you have two utilities, they can both charge you fees.
- President Peevey proposes putting a cap on the opt-out fees at 3 years.
- Neither proposal considers a no-fee option.
Ecological Options Network
EMF Analysis
EMF Safety Coalition
EMF Safety Network
No Nukes Action
Smart Meter Health Alert
Stop OC Smart Meters
Smart Meter Harm
Stop Smart Grid
Stop Smart Meters!
Stop Smart Meters Irvine
United Public Workers for Action
Wireless Radiation Alert Network
Charges dropped for two SF folx arrested Sat! NO COURT SUPPORT NEEDED TODAY! Thnx for support! #BlackLivesMatter #courtsupportmatters #ftp
— AntiRepBayArea (@AntiRepBayArea) December 18, 2014
Two folks arrested at the Millions March on Saturday in San Francisco are having their arraignments at 850 Bryant, Room 101 @ 1:30pm. They’re facing big charges and a good turn out will help! Please come and show your solidarity!
Please check the Anti-Repression event and/or Facebook for up-to-date info. These court times and dates often change at the last minute!
Come sing Anti-Foreclosure Christmas Carols to Wells Fargo with ACCE this Thursday!
Home Defenders,
Thursday is our big day! We’ll be hitting Wells Fargo loud and clear to let them know that they need to give Gaylynne, Billy Jene, Kayode, Floyd, Njambi, Cheryl, Marie and Jose and others REAL loan modifications and principle reduction and that in light of our recent victory with KYHCA, that they sign an agreement with ACCE & the community to fully participate in the Keep Your Home California’s Hardest Hit Fund!
Action at Jim Foley’s Office (regional manager at Wells Fargo)
Celebrate a “Free Speech Day” in San Leandro. There is a huge Xmas tree by City Hall, in front of the police department, so I’m inviting people to stop by, and speak out about any matter at all they want to. We’ll have a camera for anyone who wants to be filmed and put on youtube. Guy Fawkes masks welcome.
San Leandro is considering taking possession of a tank for their police. Come and tell San Leandro what you think of that…
Too many times movements dies and voices aren’t heard because the weather isn’t as pretty. Well, it’s an ugly world we live in and we have to be willing to sometimes do things that are hard and face ugly things.
When the rain comes, people go in their houses, let us not forget about those who cannot go home because their lives have been stolen in this violent police state.
Come rain. sleet, hail or snow; #BlackLivesMatter and we must not let that be forgotten just because of some much needed rain. Bring your umbrellas out, network with one another, build up the community we want to save and march side by side in solidarity with one another & in solidarity with those around the world fighting for a better world.
Wear all Black because #BlackLivesMatter.
A new formation has started in the bay area….a multi racial, multi generational group of organizations, individuals and families coming together to dismantle police terror. No longer on just the defense reacting to every atrocity by the pigs. We also going on the offensive. Come to the General meetings every third Thursday at Eastside Arts Alliance to find out what we talking about and how to get down.
With the imminent threat of a sale, First They Came for the Homeless has moved from Staples to the downtown Post Office, with support from Berkeley Post Office Defenders. The new Occupation began in early November and continues on into December. Come hang out with them and show solidarity as we all take a stand against the privatization of our commons.
Check out the Christmas event this Saturday.
Check out the stories on the raids by the Postal Police.
