Ann Coulter asked for comment had this to say.

“We should invade their land, kill their leaders, and convert them from the socialist mecca on the west coast to a democratic republic.”

Here are some interesting tidbits from that last city council meeting.

10. Changing the Unites States Drug Policy

From: Peace and Justice Commission

Recommendation:

1. Recognize the leadership of Congresswoman Barbara Lee in advocating for reduced military spending by the federal government;

2. Declare that United States drug policy should be re-oriented toward programs for demand reduction in the United States and to support the rights of people with the diseases of alcoholism and drug dependency to receive effective treatment;

3. Urge Representative Lee to step up her leadership to terminate all military assistance to the Colombian Army, and to re-direct these funds to the United States Department of Health and Human Services for substance abuse prevention, harm reduction, and treatment programs;

4. Call for a policy toward Colombia that at its forefront promotes respect for human rights and the rule of law, by conditioning economic aid to the Colombian government on effective action to end impunity for human rights violations and collaboration with paramilitary groups;

5. Oppose proposals to expand into Mexico and Afghanistan the failed strategies of aerial fumigation and militaristic approaches to drug trafficking.

Financial Implications: None

11. Firestone Natural Rubber Company Workers in Liberia

From: Peace and Justice Commission

Recommendation: Join the International Labor Rights Forum, Friends of the Earth, NAACP, TransAfrica Forum, The RFK Memorial Center for Human Rights, and other United States and Liberian based organizations in demanding that the Bridgestone/Firestone Corporation:

1. Take responsibility for the situation in Liberia and follow the law;

2. Assign achievable quotas for the average worker to negate the use of child laborers;

3. Increase wages to raise the standard of living of plantation workers;

4. Supply modern tools to protect workers on the job from coming into contact with harmful chemicals;

5. Redress all environmental damages as a result of its Liberian operations;

6. Stop releasing chemicals into the environment and stop exposing workers to any compounds and chemicals that are internationally recognized as most toxic;

7. Fully disclose all key project payments, contracts, and concession agreements for all Firestone projects in Liberia.

Financial Implications: None

13. Withdrawal of California National Guard Troops from Iraq

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

14. Enforcement Of Lying In Public Spaces And Implementation Policy

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

18. Wind Turbines and Bird Deaths

From: Councilmember Olds

Recommendation: Direct the City Manager to write letters to both the Alameda County Board of Supervisors and the Alameda County Planning Department, expressing the Berkeley City Council’s concerns about the number of bird deaths as a result of wind turbines in the Altamont Pass.

Financial Implications: None

19. Condemn Construction of Border Wall – United States and Mexico Border

From: Councilmember Worthington

Recommendation: Condemn the construction of a border wall along the international boundary zone connecting the United States of Mexico and the United States of America.

Financial Implications: None

20. Reaffirmation – U.S. Record of the Armenian Genocide

From: Councilmember Worthington

Recommendation: Adopt a resolution calling upon the House of Representatives to schedule a vote on House Resolution 106, which reaffirms the U.S. record of the Armenian Genocide.

Financial Implications: None

Since when does a local municipality guide United States foreign policy? AND since when does a municipality have a “Peace and Justice Commission”? Talk about wasteful spending. No wonder taxes are so high (along with the majority of the citizens) there.

But let’s review this meeting….

Good: Hippies
Bad: Marines

Good: Barbara Lee
Bad: US Drug Control Policies

Good: International Labor Rights Forum, Friends of the Earth, NAACP, TransAfrica Forum, The RFK Memorial Center for Human Rights
Bad: Firestone

Good: National Guard
Bad: National Guard in Iraq

Good: Bums and city provided rides to shelters for bums
Bad: Cops arresting bums for sleeping in the streets (Rudy should be pissed about this one)

Good: Birds
Bad: Senseless bird deaths from wind turbines (RFK Jr. must be conflicted on this one)

Dr.Cwac.Cwac on February 2, 2008 at 4:47 PM