Town-Gown dialog following Judge Millers injunction
Now it all makes perfect sense.
Jan. 29 (Bloomberg) -- The University of California, Berkeley, cant
cut down century-old oak trees to start construction on a $125
million sports training facility until a court rules on lawsuits
filed by groups opposing the project.
Alameda County Superior Court Judge Barbara Miller of Hayward,
California, issued a preliminary injunction today barring the
university from removing the native oak trees or taking any action
that would result in change or alteration of the physical
environment.
Construction would cause irreparable harm, and the city of
Berkeley and environmental groups would likely succeed in their
lawsuits to block the project, Miller said.
University of California, Berkeley Vice Chancellor Nathan Brostrom
said today that hes very disappointed that a judge has issued a
preliminary injunction stopping the construction of an athletic
training center near the universitys football stadium.
But Brostrom said he believes the ruling by Alameda County Superior
Court Judge Barbara Miller is only a temporary setback in the
universitys bid to build seven new facilities with a total of
451,000 square feet of new construction. [...]
Brostrom said the university hasnt yet decided if it will review
Millers ruling.
University attorney Charles Olson said the only legal ground to
appeal the ruling is if its determined that Miller abused her
discretion in granting the preliminary injunction.
Brostrom said the universitys next step is to hire a construction manager.
Mayor Tom Bates said today that he hopes the University of
California, Berkeley will reconsider its approach to the construction
of an athletic training center and facilities near the universitys
football stadium in the wake of a judges ruling. [...]
I hope the university will take another look at its plan, and if
they build a new facility, they put it where it is earthquake-safe,
Bates said. [...]
Bates said, I would be shocked if the university would suddenly turn a cold shoulder to us because we wouldnt turn a cold shoulder toward
them.
Hey, ho, Birgeneau, you say Chop, we say No!
Chant of student demonstrators
on Friday, 12 January 2007
Former mayor Shirley Dean, councilmember Betty Olds, and Save the Bay founder Sylvia McLaughlin spent an hour in an oak tree on Monday, 22 January 2007, to protest UCs plans to cut down the Memorial Stadium oak grove. (photo: Daniella Thompson)