When Berkeley Government Goes Bad
Insanity is often defined is doing the same thing over and over again while expecting different results. I think it’s fair to say that even without these two points, the City of Berkeley is nucking futs. But here are two more points to add to the growing list of evidence:
1) Berkeley Iceland “Issued an Order… again…”
Anyone who has been to Berkeley Iceland knows that it isn’t the most maintained facility. And, last year, when the city noticed an ammonia leak, the usual motions were followed, and CalStuff covered what seemed to be a simple procedural issue. But now, it’s happened again. The city has ordered the system to be replaced or fixed. Just so you all know how serious this is, check this quote from the press release:
Anhydrous ammonia is an acrid gas that is highly toxic. In case of a disaster - such as in a major earthquake along the Hayward fault - a catastrophic release of ammonia is capable of traveling around one mile down wind of the facility. Ammonia is toxic and will act on all moist body tissues, such as eyes and lungs, in a corrosive manner.
Given, I’m a poli sci major, but I don’t think I want my eyes and lungs treated in a corrosive manner. Maybe the City of Berkeley, a nuclear-free zone, should do a better job making sure I don’t have to wake up one morning to a faint bitter scent and my internal organs dissolving.
2) City Government Runs Out of Money, Then Gets More, Then Runs Out Again
It’s like a kid in a candy store. First, the city complained of a major deficit. Then, the city got more money, and spent it all promptly. And now, it’s run out of money - again. This time, it’s not a fountain to be turned on, but actual city development that has been derailed. From the Daily Cal article:
The Berkeley City Council learned Monday that it does not have sufficient funding to complete the construction of the David Brower Center, a multifunctional development project that will cost 22 percent more than anticipated last year.
Construction on the center, which will be built between Allston Way and Kittredge Street, is scheduled to begin next year if finances are settled.
But according to Berkeley Director Steve Barton, there is an $8.5 million gap in funding. City officials hope to raise about $6.5 million through loans and grants, leaving $2 million up in the air.
A message to Berkeley City Hall: Quit screwing up! Save some money for a rainy day, and keep tabs on your poison gas. Is it so difficult?
The post represents a very simple and very flawed way of understanding the situation. Unfortunately, a lot of people hold this view. It would indeed be nice, (or easy might be a better way to put it, but even then…), if any money the City received could be spent anywhere on any project the City chooses.
The reality is that there are restrictions, earmarks, caveats, etc. on most revenue, including the money that was “promptly spent.”
It’s understandable that the simple and prevailing view is “Why does the City spend more than it receives” but it’s really not that simple. I think we all wish it were that easy.
Comment by Reason — July 30, 2005 @ 11:39 am
maybe thats one way to look at insanity, but stupidity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting the same results.
Comment by mano — July 30, 2005 @ 1:11 pm
Was anyone at the starbucks when the local nut crashed into it? Actually, our neighbor on Haste street who has sent the man in the apartment downstairs from me who works at Zellerbach in excess of 100 threatening postcards - one every three days, because he has schizophrenia and has some fascination with him, has a Jeep and matches the physical description, so at first I was picturing that he had done it.
Comment by anon — July 30, 2005 @ 6:46 pm
The city of berkeley has no means of mantaining itself, and ben narodick must be some sort of genius for taking notice. an overweight genius at that.
Comment by Anonymous — July 31, 2005 @ 1:59 am
A crazy man driving an SUV into a Starbucks… It’s almost like Project Mayhem from Fight Club coming to life.
Comment by jonp — July 31, 2005 @ 10:14 pm
Budgeting is not an easy task. Ben, you should know that
I know where you’re coming from, just be careful not to oversimplify this issue. That’s all I’ll say, except that the Brower Center is a great project, and I voted to fund it several months ago; I hope we can see this come to fruition.
Comment by Jason O. — August 1, 2005 @ 9:30 am
–It would indeed be nice, (or easy might be a better way to put it, but even then…), if any money the City received could be spent anywhere on any project the City chooses.–
If that were the case, wouldn’t we have to govern by consensus… and wouldn’t that be a bitch?
Comment by anon2 — August 1, 2005 @ 11:45 am