Berkeley secedes from the union (or attempts to)

[Ack-Ack]

Originally posted by john9001
this is where you are wrong, cities cannot ban walmarts, bars, and strip clubs or any other legal business, they can only control the zoning of where the business can go, but they cannot zone the city so that there is no place the business can be put.

Whether or not cities can, cities still do it.  In National City they decided to get rid of their "sleazy" image by prohibiting strip joints and tattoo parlors by zoning them out.  Whether or not it's legal is up in the air but to date no business trying to open a strip joint or tattoo parlor has been successful in challenging the zoning regulations.  Even in areas where some old time tattoo parlors are already in existance (near the 32nd St. Naval Base) are being forced out because the National City Council are changing the zoning regulations.  Case in point, a tattoo parlor near one of the local high schools that has been in the same location for 50+ years (2nd oldest tattoo parlor in National City).  The business was forced to relocate to another city after zoning regulation changes prohibited a tattoo parlor from being within 1000ft of a public school.  The tattoo parlor couldn't get a new permit to operate in National City because of the new zoning regulations.




ack-ack

[Ack-Ack]

Here's one liberal Berkeley councilman's thoughts on the situation.

Kriss Worthington, a progressive Berkeley activist and council member for 11 years, believes the council overreached.

"The inflammatory language in the City Council item is really outrageous -- not just to right-wing people, but to mainstream liberal people and even to some peace activists who have said they're insulted that the city would have such language," Worthington said.


He said Berkeley owes an apology to the military and to the peace movement "for having such embarrassing language allegedly trying to promote peace."

"When you make a colossal blunder, you can't just sort of ignore the mistake and go about your way. You have to do something to fix it," Worthington said

ack-ack

[AKIron]

Originally posted by Ack-Ack
Here's one liberal Berkeley councilman's thoughts on the situation.




ack-ack

Ah, the voice of reason, melodious is it not?

[Sandman]

Originally posted by eagl
Why does it continue to escape you that the military is not a business like wal-mart?  It is a constitutionally mandated...

True for the Army and Navy.

[AKIron]

Originally posted by Sandman
True for the Army and Navy.

The USAF made short work of the world's third largest Army in 1991. If a constitutional amendment is required to keep it active who will object?



maybe it was the fourth, memory ain't what it usta be

[Sox62]

Originally posted by Trell
The US Post office provides a local service.   The IRS collect federal taxes.
Berkeley Supports the military  by paying taxes,  It should be their choice if they want a local recruiting station.

Their taxes also support the local police force.

Should it also be their choice which laws they should abide by?

[Sandman]

Originally posted by Sox62

Their taxes also support the local police force.

Should it also be their choice which laws they should abide by?

To a certain extent, they do just that.

[AKIron]

Originally posted by Sandman
To a certain extent, they do just that.

When our government fails to enforce our border laws citizens notice. If the citizens of these United States become selective in the laws they endorse chaos will reign. The beginning of the end has begun. When exactly is debatable but we are on the slope.

[eagl]

Originally posted by Sandman
True for the Army and Navy.

Shhh  Besides, the USMC is part of the navy so pbbbthththth

[aenigma]

Sorry I am late on this but this meeting is still going on!!

watch here> http://berkeley.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=2

I hope Bezerkeley falls apart of they push our military out. Next time if something major happens in that city like a major flood or fire, I pray the military does not help them.

[Russian]

BERKELEY, Calif. —

City councilmembers who were heavily criticized for telling Marine recruiters they don't belong here have moderated their position, saying they oppose the war in Iraq but support the troops.
Berkeley's City Council voted two weeks ago to send a letter to a downtown recruiting station advising the U.S. Marines they are not welcome.

After a marathon session that stretched into early Wednesday, the council decided not to send the letter, saying they recognize recruiters' right to be in Berkeley. The council said they still strongly oppose the war and the recruitment of young people into it, but "deeply respect and support" the men and women of the armed forces.

• View photos of protests staged at Berkeley City Hall

Some on the council had pushed for issuing an apology. But others rejected that, saying they just wanted to clarify their position.

Councilwoman Linda Maio said the council opposes recruitment, not the military. "It's behavior that we oppose, not the people," she said.

The meeting drew hundreds of people on both sides of the issue who rallied from dawn until well into the night outside City Hall.

Inside the chamber, scores of speakers addressed the council.

Some decried the council's earlier action.

"You owe our military an apology," said Kevin Graves, a San Francisco Bay area resident who said his son died serving in Iraq.

But others applauded the council's stand.

Medea Benjamin, co-founder of the anti-war group Code Pink, said her group supports the troops — "we support them so much that we're desperate to get them back home."

In rallies outside, members of the pro-military group Move America Forward waved flags and held signs including "Boycott Berkeley for Bashing Our Boys" and "Support our Troops."

Meanwhile, protesters with Code Pink waved signs saying "Peace Now" and "Bring Our Troops Home."

At its height, police estimated the crowd at about 2,000. A handful of people were arrested for scuffles between protesters, said Berkeley police spokeswoman Sgt. Mary Kusmiss.

The recruiting office opened in Berkeley in late 2006 and operated quietly until four months ago when Code Pink began holding regular protests.

The City Council's initial vote Jan. 29 outraged several lawmakers, who have threatened to withhold millions in state and federal money destined for Berkeley.

On Tuesday, more than 40 House Republican members asked President Bush to immediately rescind over $2 million in earmarks awarded to Berkeley.

[indy007]

Funny, all this, and a particular line item on Berkley's city council meeting was pretty much ignored...

Approval to send a letter to the Canadian Government urging them to offer sanctuary to "war resisters".

Between the Phelps clan, the ANSWER stalinists, code pink beast-feed-a-thons, World Can't Wait maoists in their orange jumpsuits, and a skitzophrenic city council...

am I the only one who just finds it funny as hell?

[moot]

Crackpots...

[Dos Equis]

Well, now it is getting really stupid.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/ireports/2008/02/13/vo.irpt.berkeley.protests.ireports

Now, they are burning the American flag in the street. It's unclear who these people are, if they are Code Pink or what.

Now pretty much everybody, even the left side of the Democratic party, has written them off.

[AKIron]

Originally posted by Dos Equis
Well, now it is getting really stupid.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/ireports/2008/02/13/vo.irpt.berkeley.protests.ireports

Now, they are burning the American flag in the street. It's unclear who these people are, if they are Code Pink or what.

Now pretty much everybody, even the left side of the Democratic party, has written them off.

Send one Marine to the street, without a weapon, they'll all scatter.