474. El Cerrito Childcare Center's Neighbors, 1990

Published news story by Lurene K. Helzer, November 8, 1990, The El Cerrito Journal, “EC council sets a limit on home childcare center”. Only a portion of this clipping is available.

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When reviewing all these old news items from the East Bay, I remind myself that groups of people will always find new things to argue about because it’s just what people do, day in, day out; chasing “world peace” is actually pointing to a dog chasing his tail, defining it as “progressive.” (I'm sure I've heard this joke elsewhere.)



EL CERRITO — Home childcare center owner Patricia Cooper was seething with anger after the City Council last week decided to limit the number of children she can watch in her home.

Cooper, who runs Rainbow’s End Childcare, said she would take legal action to keep the center open for 12 children, rather than only six, and complained bitterly about the “ugly neighbors” who complained to the city council about her business.

She said her neighbors didn’t consider traffic from the nearby El Cerrito Del Norte Bart station, and only complained about noise from her center even though other children live in the neighborhood. She also said a rock band frequently rehearses in the Harper Street neighborhood.

Area residents appealed an Oct. 3 Planning Commission decision granting Cooper a permit to operate the center. The council voted unanimously in favor of the residents’ appeal.

Councilmember Cathie Kosel, who said before voting that she was sympathetic to Cooper since she is a single parent herself, said a smaller childcare center was best for the neighborhood.

“This vote is in no way an indictment of your childcare facility,” said Mayor Bob Bacon. He also said the ordinance allowing operation of home childcare centers in El Cerrito was “not written broadly enough” to consider the concentration of other neighborhood facilities.

Many who complained about the center said it did not meet the street-width and backyard space requirements of the ordinance.

The center is just slightly short of the requirements, so the Planning Commission had originally passed the shortfalls off as “minor” discrepancies.

But most City Council members agreed that the center should met the minimum space requirements exactly. Councilmember Jean Siri said the discrepancy in the minimum street-width requirement should not be compromised.

Several neighbors complained about the existence of the center on 2008 Harper St. before the council meeting through letters to City Hall.

“To award the permit is to reward illegal actions,” Dr…..—end of clipping—

473. El Cerrito Plaza, 1990

Published news story by Lurene K. Helzer, December 13, 1990, The El Cerrito Journal, “El Cerrito Plaza redevelopment more than another quick facelift”. 

Email Lurene in 2014 at lurenexyz@gmail.com

Only a portion of this clipping is available:


EL CERRITO—A Bay Area developer laid out a dramatic plan for rehabilitation of the El Cerrito Plaza in a proposal in the Redevelopment Agency.

The developer said it is designed to “make everyone happy” — even Emporium-Capwell owner Carter Hawley Hale.

But happiness may not be quick or cheap for the agency. The estimated $50 million plan, as presented at the Dec. 3 meeting, would include building new sites for Lucky’s and the Emporium, demolishing some existing buildings and attracting new tenants for the revamped plaza — more than a simple facelift.

The San Leandro-based Brookmat Corporation also proposes to build apartment units in the final stages of construction, which Brookmat President William Mathews Brooks said would leave less room for retail, but give the plaza a “focal point.”

The project, which would be implemented in phases, could take up to two years to complete, if a contract is signed between the agency and the developer. “What we have tried to do is create a plan that’s conservative, practical and presents the best opportunity of going forward,” said Brooks, who spoke before the agency.

Brookmat “expressed interest in purchasing the interests of Columbia Savings and Carter…--end of clipping--

472. Bob Winslow of El Cerrito, 1991

Published news story by Lurene K. Helzer, September 19, 1991, The El Cerrito Journal, “Candidate likes local flavor; Winslow favors preserving small businesses in El Cerrito”. Photo by Tina Dauterman.

Email Lurene in 2014 at lurenexyz@gmail.com

Mr. Winslow was feisty, was at El Cerrito’s City Council meetings each time I was there to do a news story. Today, I think his ideas were sensible, but nearly impossible on the political level. For example, he wanted Contra Costa County’s cities and neighborhoods to work together, for elected leaders to attend meetings outside their districts. This idea seems rational, but the councilmember of Richmond will find relatively little of common interest with the councilmember from El Cerrito or San Pablo.

Winslow was correct about scare tactics, though. California’s politicians rely heavily on appeals to the public regarding budgets, frequently threaten to lay off police and firefighters. Of course, California is so broke in 2010 that the elected officials are telling the truth; Californians know the state is begging when even the illegal immigrants of Mexico are returning home:



EL CERRITO — City Council Candidate Bob Winslow, 69, began working when he was 8-years-old. “I’m the oldest of 10 kids. I was born on a farm, and we worked our way through life. We didn’t sit in an armchair and let the world go by,” said Winslow.

Winslow was born in Bluesprings, Neb., but has lived in El Cerrito for 47 years. He entered the Navy in 1939, two years before the U.S. entrance into World War II. He married his wife Angie, an El Cerrito native, in 1944 and has been married to her since. The house in which they reside is the house where his wife was born and raised.

He worked at Sealand Service, a shipping company, for over 19 years as a port engineer. He retired in 1981 and continued running his El Cerrito carpet-cleaning business, which he started in 1978, until 1986, when he sold it to retire completely.

Winslow is running for the council seat for the third time. He only lost last time, he said, because he was helping some other candidates with their campaigns. But he is confident he will win this time.

“When I lost last time I said I would never run again and I thought I was getting too old to be tied down. We like to travel. My mother’s back in Nebraska and we go back there three our four times a year,” he said.

But Winslow said he was persuaded to jump into the race by people on the El Cerrito Chamber of Commerce and other friends who encouraged him to run. “El Cerrito’s been good to me. It’s a good city, and I would like to see it get back that way.”

Winslow criticized redevelopment, recent staff raises and the recent hiring of additional staff members.

He disliked the Target store deal and a redevelopment agency’s decision to move the local bowling alley. “There’s nothing wrong with the Target store, but they don’t belong in the middle of town…I’d rather have seen the bowling alley where it was an (the building of some) apartments and small stores,” he said.

Winslow prefers smaller, private enterprise over large developers. He said fighting for his vision of what El Cerrito should look like doesn’t intimidate him. “I’m a Pearl Harbor survivor. I’m ready for a good fight,’ Winslow said.

Winslow said El Cerrito has been unwise in its spending for city improvements. “We’ve got a few new buildings, but we’ve paid dearly for them through redevelopment,” said Winslow.

“Every time something comes up where they say they’re short of money, we’re going to layoff fire and policemen. I don’t like scare tactics. I don’t scare too easy,” he said. “They never mention laying off staff, which should come first.”

Winslow is bold and assertive during city council meetings, which he attends regularly. “That’s the only way you can operate where they’ll listen…I think they listen to me.”

“I’m confident I’m going to win,” said Winslow. He plans to campaign door-to-door in the neighborhoods of El Cerrito. He says he spends much of his time visiting people in El Cerrito, anyway.

Winslow thinks it would be necessary to attend the council meetings of other cities in Contra Costa County to solve some of El Cerrito’s problems.

“I think the counties and the cities are each going to have to start working together instead of separately, and the cities are going to have to start working together — Richmond, Pinole, Hercules, El Cerrito, San Pablo. They’re going to have to work in larger forms to get more done,” he said.--end--


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471. Black Chambers of Commerce, 2001

Published news stories by Lurene Helzer, August 22-23, 2001, Bay City News. Story here is “Black Chambers Of Commerce Gather This Week”. 

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(Photo of Michael Jordan on golf course, January 17, 2007 from Creative Commons/Wikipedia. Mr. Jordan would not have been a member of California's business clubs. I presume he would have been involved with the elite clubs of Illinois.)

I post material regarding the SF Black Chamber here today, not the others, because I estimate the other two items are of little interest in 2010.

A lot of news reporting work is of this nature; stories of only some public interest for a limited time, a given geography. This is how most journalism differs from, say, a lot of 20th Century fiction.

There's cultural history in the folds, however.

For example, the SF Black Chamber in 2001 is the SF African American Chamber in 2010. Both organizations, however, give the observer a good picture of the SF Bay area’s black intelligentsia of the day, their respective agendas.

Notice the members were gathering at a golf course in 2001, as many elites did. Their meeting spot might be less hoity-toity in 2010, given current economic conditions.

The other stories not appearing here are “SF Police Look For Armed Robbery Suspect”, “No BART Service On Richmond Line Between Colma And Daly City”:


SAN FRANCISCO--Members of two black chambers of commerce are gathering today for the start of a three-day San Francisco convention aimed at promoting black businesses.

The groups planned to tee off the annual gathering at Novato’s Stonetree Golf Club today, before swinging into more serious discussions at San Francisco’s Cathedral Hill Hotel Thursday and Friday.

The California Black Chamber of Commerce s and the San Francisco Black Chamber of Commerce will feature speakers like Ray Wilkins, president and CEO of Pacific Bell/SBC, Gwen Moore, president and CEO of Gem Communications, and Tim Hanlon, president at Wells Fargo Bank.

Workshops organized as part of the “Connecting the Dots for Business Growth and Development” conference will cover franchise ownership, business with state and federal governments, personal wealth, and international trade.

“The CBCC and the San Francisco Black Chamber, the oldest black chamber in the state, intends to provide you with all the information you need to improve your bottom line,” said Aubry Stone, resident and CEO of the California Black Chamber of Commerce.

This year’s convention also will award six scholarships for youth in nearby communities who might not otherwise have access to college funding, according to the organizations.

LureneHelzer0220p08/22/01
CONTACT: San Francisco Black Chamber of Commerce (415) 291-8818


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470. Sex, Violence and Islam, 2001

Published news story by Lurene K. Helzer, August 22, 2001, Bay City News, “Saturday Benefit For Clinic Serving Prostitutes”. 

Email Lurene in 2014 at lurenexyz@gmail.com

I include here the edited and unedited version for the benefit of journalism students. Also, the subject is prostitution in California, so the story draws eyes in general. Photo above is of my cat, who's obviously not showing off her talents as a working girl in this 2010 photo.

Incidentally, I must mention that Margo St. James, the leading figure in this 2001 news story I wrote, was married to San Francisco Chronicle journalist Paul Avery, the leading reporter on the "Zodiac Killer" case. Avery even received a threat from the Zodiac, a card. The Zodiac was never caught, and Avery died in December of 2000.

Outside that interesting note, the reason I use the story’s original and edited form is to let people understand some of the mechanics of the American print media. The edited version includes the work of editors at BCN.

The reader should try to notice that there is no special set of editing rules for stories about prostitution, murder, fraud, or whatever. Whether the subject is prostitution, terrorism, or city budgets, the rules are similar. This is an important point, however obvious it may seem.

Why is it important? On too many occasions to count this April 1, 2010, I’ve read or listened to commentators from the Mideast. It’s often the same, tired saw: “The American media depicts us unfairly, like we are all backward, all terrorists.” Such critics are under the impression the media use different standards when reporting on issues involving Moslems.

This thinking displays only Islam’s pompous nature, as far as I’m concerned.

What the American media needs to answer back to Islam is this: “We are not your PR agents. If you blew up a subway this week in Moscow, you blew up a subway this week in Moscow. If you want a business to depict you in a flattering light, you’re knocking on the wrong door."

Nevertheless, I see Islam starting (again) now with Russia. My guess, as an American, is that Islam will obtain poor results. By 2013, they’ll wish they’d chosen a more sensible course:


SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

Margo St. James, the founder of an infirmary for sex workers, well-known for her advocacy of issues related to prostitution, was on the steps of city hall today to publicize a clinic fundraiser this weekend and to speak against prohibition laws.

“They haven’t done anything except what guys paid them to do,” said St. James of the women she has been trying to help since the early 1970s.

St. James began COYOTE (Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics) in 1973 to promote health care, political representation and legal rights for prostitutes. She says that because of its prohibition, prostitution is as stigmatized and dangerous as alcohol consumption was during the years of the 18th Amendment, passed in 1919 and repealed in 1933.

“It’s the whole stigma,” said St. James. “Every woman’s afraid of being called a whore.”

Her 7th Street clinic, called the St. James Infirmary, provides services not only to women, but also to transgendered and gay male prostitutes.

She said the trauma, disease and violence typically found in prostitution is associated with its illegality in the first place, rather than the profession alone.

Also, she pointed out that there is a societal push on men to seek sexual gratification, regardless of the cost to society. She used the aggressive promotion of Viagra by the pharmaceutical industry as an example. Meanwhile, she said, the women having sex with these men – quite often not the wives – are punished.

“Most current services for prostitutes are offered in the context of the correctional system. The St. James Infirmary is different,” she said.

The clinic looks at the normal range of issues a patient may have, not just STDs and wounds caused by violence, she said.

Patients come into the clinic with everything from back problems to urological complaints, she said. “Some Asian masseuses have never seen a doctor in their lives,” St. James said. It is poverty seen often in immigrant women who do such illegal work, she said.

A benefit for the clinic is taking place this Saturday from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Lost City 23 Club at 23 Visitacion Ave. in Brisbane. There will be about 11 performers, some prizes, a barbecue and a no-host bar. Tickets at the door at $25. – END –

EDITED VERSION

The founder of an infirmary for sex workers stood on the steps of San Francisco City Hall today to publicize a weekend fund-raising event for the clinic and to speak against prohibition laws.

Margo St. James said her Seventh Street clinic, called the St. James Infirmary, provides services not only to women, but also to transgendered and gay male prostitutes. She said the trauma, disease and violence typically found in prostitution cases is associated with its illegality and lack of candor among victims who fear prosecution.

“They haven’t done anything except what guys paid them to do,” said St. James of the women she has been trying to help since the early 1970s.

St. James, well known for her advocacy of issues related to prostitution, began COYOTE -- Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics -- in 1973 to promote health care, political representation and legal rights for prostitutes.

She says that because of its illegal status, prostitution is stigmatized and dangerous, somewhat like alcohol consumption during the years of prohibition between 1919 and 1933.

“It’s the whole stigma,” St. James said. “Every woman’s afraid of being called a whore.”

She said there is also pressure for men to seek sexual gratification, regardless of the cost to society. She cited the aggressive promotion of Viagra by the pharmaceutical industry as an example.

Meanwhile, she said it is the female prostitutes, not the male customers, who are most often punished.

The St. James clinic, now celebrating its second anniversary, aims to help sex workers address their health needs in a less judgmental setting.

“Most current services for prostitutes are offered in the context of the correctional system. The St. James Infirmary is different,” she said.

The clinic looks at the normal range of issues a patient may have, not just sexually transmitted diseases or wounds caused by violence, she said. Patients come into the clinic with everything from back problems to urological complaints, she said.

“Some Asian masseuses have never seen a doctor in their lives,” St. James said, noting that many prostitutes are struggling with poverty as well as health ailments.

The benefit for the clinic will be held Saturday from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Lost City 23 Club at 23 Visitacion Ave. in Brisbane. There will be about 11 performers, some prizes, a barbecue and a no-host bar. Tickets at the door at $25. – END –

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469. Bay Cablevision's 1991 Tea Party for El Cerrito's City Council

Published news story by Lurene K. Helzer, June 27, 1991, The Journal, “Cable company opposes utility tax”. This small story, below, running with photo of Bruce Molloy by Tina Dauterman, ran alongside 1991 story on the city’s budget. I can't locate Ms. Dauterman's photo today to use here.

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There seems to be a problem with the date cited in this story, June 24, 1991. It was either a cutting room error, or some other, because the story seems written for a previous issue of The Journal. I don’t know. It’s a bit late for correction, but I couldn’t help noticing it in 2010; “…plain as the nose on your face,” as Grandpa Jim used to say:



EL CERRITO – The City Council is expected to pass the Utility Users Tax in its final form June 24. The local cable supplier, Bay Cablevision, has been opposed to the tax since it first came up for discussion.

There was a question as to how much revenue the Utility Users Tax would bring. The budget assumes $1.2 million in revenue, but if the city extends the utility tax to international calls in addition to interstate calls, Randall said it may bring about $100,000 yearly more into the city, a rough estimate.

Bruce Molloy, vice president and general manager of the local cable supplier, which is affiliated with Cable Oakland, said, “We may have to take legal action” to oppose the tax. “These taxes are way, way out of line,” he said.

Molloy argued that cable companies already pay franchise fees and right-of-way fees. Subscribers may have to now pay not only El Cerrito’s new tax, but also an eventual state tax of 6 percent.

Bay Cablevision users may eventually have to pay a total of 28 percent for taxes, he said.

--30—

468. City Hits Reserves To Maintain Budget, 1991 El Cerrito

Published news story by Lurene K. Helzer, June 27, 1991, The Journal, “City hits reserves to maintain budget; Council avoids further cuts in tight budget”. This newspaper went to readers in the East Bay communities of Albany, El Cerrito and Kensington. Photos by Tina Dauterman.

Lurene's email in 2014: lurenexyz@gmail.com


I admit this story is not a tempting diversion today, but I enjoy revisiting these old East Bay city budget jobs. I sometimes find the current budget for the concerned city, compare costs. I did this quickly today, March 31, 2010, and was delighted to see El Cerrito had continued many of its redevelopment programs, even improved them.


Budget stories might seem terribly boring, but municipal finance can sometimes require skills of sports reporting or comedy writing. Readers/journalism students can find their own examples, given U.S. financial events of the last few years:


EL CERRITO — The City Council passed the proposed 1991-92 budget June 17 without raising the Landscape and Lighting Assessment fee or making substantial cuts. Some citizens, however, spoke against the funding plan.

NEW TAXES

The council decided to leave the Landscape and Lighting Assessment at its present rate of $72 per year, but is expected to impose a new Utility Users Tax June 24.

The idea of a higher assessment for landscape and lighting enraged some of those at the meeting, but received support from others who said the money was needed for park improvements.

“Are you going to tax me right out of this city?” asked an angry John Sawers of El Cerrito. Sawers, pointing to council members, promised not to vote for them again.

But comments in support of the increase surfaced. “It’s necessary. We need to hold the gains we’ve made (in our parks),” said Dan Feudenthal of El Cerrito.

After hearing comments, all council members voted, somewhat reluctantly, against the increase. “I will vote against this one measure this year, because it seems to have caused a lot of enmity,” said councilmember Jean Siri.

With no cutbacks, the city will spend more than it receives in revenues. El Cerrito will dip into reserves once again to balance the budget.

Before the June 17 meeting, department heads were asked to show where they would cut in budgets if needed. Flipcharts were brought out during the meeting to show how 7 to 10 percent cuts could be made in each department of the city and what the advantages and disadvantages would be of each cut.

Police Chief Dan Givens proposed eliminating two traffic officers to save $122,000. He gave a detailed explanation of how the cut would hurt the city. For example, fewer officers might increase overtime and violate minimum staffing requirements, Givens said.

The fire department proposed closing one of El Cerrito’s fire stations, but warned that it would mean an increased response time to fire calls.

After all department heads made their recommendations, Pokorny, while reserving his opinion, said he couldn’t truly recommend any of the cuts. “This is a lean organization,” he said.

After the presentation on cuts, community activist Sandy Kerr addressed the council. He began by saying he had prepared for his speech by researching the words of “great philosophers.” Then, he quoted 1930s film star Mae West. “When choosing between two evils, I like to choose the one I never tried,” Kerr said, referring to cuts in the budget.

Kerr then began hurling angry remarks at the council. He said the city manager was “loose with numbers and dollars” and said the city had not made a reasonable effort to look for ways of cutting the budget.

Council members and city staff members, already angry about previous public comments Kerr had made about the city’s management, sat silently. Minutes later, as Kerr began to “challenge” Mayor Kathie Kosel to make cuts, Councilmember Bob Bacon retorted that Kerr would “challenge anyone,” and tersely criticized his confrontational tactics.

The council then closed the public hearing and decided not to make cuts, although they agreed some of the suggestions – like closing El Cerrito’s public pool during the winter – could be followed some time in the future.

HOPED FOR CUTS

Council members discussed the budget in a meeting on Saturday preceding the council session. “What I would like to see on Monday night are some options…with the goal of reducing the deficit,” Bob Bacon said then.

“If you suppress salaries synthetically below the market rate, you end up with a community that’s getting something for nothing and doesn’t appreciate it,” Bacon said.

City Manager Gary Pokorny said during that meeting that sales tax revenues are subject ot fluctuations more than other sources of revenue.

The 1991-92 budget, after the previously estimated salary increases are subtracted, totals $14,457,553. Last year, the budget totaled $11,681,483. Over half of the $2,776,070 increase is because the redevelopment agency’s budget is now included with the city’s budget, city officials pointed out. However, the agency’s budget, listed as $1,499,277 this fiscal year, does not depend on normal city revenues.

BIG INCREASES

One of the most dramatic cost increases is in insurance costs, which went from $164,000 last year to over $400,000 this fiscal year – an increase of over $200,000, Administrative Manager Jim Randall said.

But salary increases originally written into the budget, which were rough estimates, were removed, shaving about $80,000 off the final budget.

-- end --