Berkeley’s City Council passed a Resolution on Tuesday recommending “Universal and Unconditional Amnesty for Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan War Military Resisters and Veterans Who Acted In Opposition to the War for Matters of Conscience.” It recommends forgiveness for all convictions or pending charges of desertion, Absence Without Leave (AWOL), and Unauthorized Absence (UA), or who [...]
Archive for March, 2010
31 Mar
Green-partiers rally for strong Energy and Climate Action Plan
Oakland is one step closer to living up to its aspiration to be a model green city. Oakland City Council held a special meeting Tuesday night to hear city staff recommendations and public comments concerning the Energy and Climate Action Plan it is working on. The council meeting was preceded by an energetic rally in [...]
31 Mar
The Ripple Effect: Cannabis-related businesses expand—and profit
This is the fourth piece in my six-part series on Oakland Local on the business of marijuana.) Not everybody breaking into the marijuana industry wants to grow plants or run a dispensary. In fact, entrepreneurs of all stripes are launching new efforts to cash in on the budding popularity of the cannabis business. Read the [...]
30 Mar
Pot Biz: New Opportunities
This is the third piece in my six-part series on Oakland Local on the business of marijuana. In the current economy, financial incentives alone are sufficiently enticing to make many people consider a career change. Though the initial cost of indoor lamps, wiring, fertilizer, soil and fans can add up, start-up costs pale in comparison [...]
29 Mar
Oakland Climate Action Coalition Recommendations
We know the problems: too much pollution, too much waste and inefficient use of energy, exacerbated by issues related to transportation, food, energy, waste and building systems. Luckily, we know some of the solutions too. One big target has been set: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 36 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 and [...]
29 Mar
Oaksterdam: Expanding Cannabis Education
(This is the second piece in a six-part series on Oakland Local on the business of marijuana.) After just two years, Oaksterdam University is an institutional heavy-weight, drawing hundreds of students from all over the United States to learn to cultivate marijuana and legally sell the plants. Forty-seven-year-old entrepreneur and Oaksterdam founder Richard Lee started [...]
