The world according to Riff

CONSENT CALENDAR

January 29, 2008

To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council

From: Peace and Justice Commission

Submitted by:Steve Freedkin, Chairperson

Subject: Marine Recruiting Office in Berkeley

RECOMMENDATION

(1) Direct the City Attorney to investigate and report back to Council within 60 days on

City options for enforcing Chapter 13.28 of the Berkeley Municipal Code, prohibiting

discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, with respect to military recruiting

offices in Berkeley; (2) direct the City Manager to send letters to the Marine Corps

Recruiting Station at 64 Shattuck Avenue and to General James T. Conway,

Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, advising them that the Marine

recruiting office is not welcome in our city, and if recruiters choose to stay, they do so as

uninvited and unwelcome intruders; and (3) encourage all people to avoid cooperation

with the Marine Corps recruiting station, and applaud residents and organizations such

as Code Pink, that may volunteer to impede, passively or actively, by nonviolent means,

the work of any military recruiting office located in the City of Berkeley.

FISCAL IMPACTS OF RECOMMENDATION

Staff time to research the City’s options for enforcing Chapter 13.28 of the Berkeley

Municipal Code, discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, with respect to military

recruiting offices in Berkeley.

CURRENT SITUATION AND ITS EFFECT

The United States has a history of launching illegal, immoral and unprovoked wars of

aggression and the Bush Administration launched the most recent of those wars in Iraq

and is threatening the possibility of war in Iran. These wars have produced catastrophic

loss of human life, both civilian and military, as well as physically maiming and

deforming and psychologically destroying countless numbers of civilians and military

personnel. (OOPS THEY FORGOT TO MENTION STOPPING TOJO, HITLER, SADDAM ECT)

The United States Marine Corps is being used as one of the means of perpetrating and

prolonging illegal, unconstitutional and unnecessary wars of the United States. Military

recruiters are sales people known to lie to and seduce minors and young adults into

contracting themselves into military service with false promises regarding jobs, job

Marine Recruiting Office in Berkeley CONSENT CALENDAR

January 29, 2008

2

training, education and other benefits. Many enlisted persons never see the benefits

they are promised and find out they are not eligible for the educational benefits due to

loopholes and they did not receive the training promised or it did not qualify them for

jobs outside the military..(A BACKGROUND CHECK MAY REVEAL WHY THEY WERE DENIED...DISHONRABLE DISCHARGE, FELONY OFFENSE ON RECORD LYING, OR UNABLE TO FUFILL THE CONTRACT THEY SIGNED, FOR VARIED REASONS..BUT LETS NOT BRING THAT POSSIBILITY UP  NO NO)

The United States military discriminates by refusing to hire gays, lesbians, or bisexuals. (TOUGH SUBJECT THERE...TOO MANY FACETS TO GO INTO TODAY, MAYBE LATER)

By ordinance (BMC § 13.28.030; Ord. 5106-NS § 1 (part), 1978), the City of Berkeley

prohibits such discrimination; requires employers to post a notice that discrimination on

the basis of sexual orientation is prohibited by law; and provides for a fine of up to $50

per offense for failure to do so.

BACKGROUND

At the meeting of January 7, 2008, the Peace and Justice Commission approved the

the following recommendation:

WHEREAS, the Peace & Justice Commission advises the City Council on all matters

relating to the City of Berkeley’s role in issues of peace and social justice [Berkeley

Municipal Code (BMC) Chapter 369.070]; and

WHEREAS, the United States has a history of launching illegal, immoral and

unprovoked wars of aggression and the Bush Administration launched the most recent

of those wars in Iraq and is threatening the possibility of war in Iran; and

WHEREAS, the United States armed forces, including the Marine Corps, explicitly

refuse to hire openly non-heterosexual individuals, and will discharge an individual in

their employ "who engages in, attempts to engage in, has a propensity to engage in, or

intends to engage in homosexual acts" [10 USC § 654(b)(2), "Policy Concerning

Homosexuality in the Armed Forces"]; and (HASN;T THIS BEEN ADDRESS BY THE GOV'T OR IS IN PROGRESS?)

WHEREAS, Berkeley Municipal Code § 13.28, "Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual

Orientation," provides that "It shall be an unlawful employment practice for an employer to

fail or refuse to hire, or to discharge any individual, or otherwise to discriminate against

any individual with respect to compensation, terms, conditions or privileges of

employment on the basis of such individual’s sexual orientation" [BMC § 13.28(A)(1)],

and applies the same standard to employment agencies and job-training programs

[BMC § 13.28(A)(3), § 13.28(A)(5)]; and

WHEREAS, these wars have produced catastrophic loss of human life, both civilian and

military, as well as physically maiming and deforming and psychologically destroying

countless numbers of civilians and military personnel; and

WHEREAS, the people of the City of Berkeley have long voiced their stand for peace

and against unnecessary wars; and support people following their consciences to do

what is morally and ethically right to resist illegitimate authority; and

Marine Recruiting Office in Berkeley CONSENT CALENDAR

January 29, 2008

3

WHEREAS, the United States Marine Corps is being used as one of the means of

perpetrating and prolonging illegal, unconstitutional and unnecessary wars of the United

States; and

WHEREAS, military recruiters are sales people known to lie to and seduce minors and

young adults into contracting themselves into military service with false promises

regarding jobs, job training, education and other benefits; and

WHEREAS, many enlisted persons never see the benefits they are promised and find

out they are not eligible for the educational benefits due to loopholes and they did not

receive the training promised or it did not qualify them for jobs outside the military; and

WHEREAS, the people of Berkeley should want the Marine Corps present near

Berkeley High School, Berkeley City College, and University of California no more than

they would want other violent influences downtown.  (MORE REPETITIVE CRAP, RESTATING THE SAME BULLSHIT)

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Peace & Justice Commission

recommends that the Council of the City of Berkeley direct the City Attorney to

investigate and report back to Council within 60 days on City options for enforcing

Chapter 13.28 of the Berkeley Municipal Code, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of

sexual orientation, with respect to military recruiting offices in Berkeley.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Berkeley direct the City

Manager to send letters to the Marine Corps Recruiting Station at 64 Shattuck Avenue

and to General James T. Conway, Commandant of the United States Marine Corps,

advising them that the Marine recruiting office is not welcome in our city, and if

recruiters choose to stay, they do so as uninvited and unwelcome intruders.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Berkeley encourage all

people to avoid cooperation with the Marine Corps recruiting station, and applaud

residents and organizations such as Code Pink, that may volunteer to impede, passively

or actively, by nonviolent means, the work of any military recruiting office located in the

City of Berkeley.

CITY MANAGER

The City Manager takes no position on the recommendations of the Commission.

However, it is unlikely that the City has the ability to enforce Chapter 13.28 against the

United States military.

CONTACT PERSON

Steve Freedkin, Chairperson, Peace and Justice Commission, (510) 595-4626

Robert Meola, Peace and Justice Commission, (510) 644-1102

Manuel Hector Jr., Secretary, Peace and Justice Commission, (510) 981-5110

CAN YOU STOMACH THESE SOCIALIST WINDBAGS..."oh we don't mean we don't like the marines, its just  evrything they stand for and do, and who they are employed by....DAMN YOU BUSH!!!!   OK i PARAPHRASED A LITTLE....these are the people who want Hitlery in office, that want to "understand" and talk to terrorist and call them freedom fighters, and say how brave they are to hate the U.S.A.....The rosie Odonnels and joan biazes, Jane fondas straddling a vietnamese anti aircraft cannon, whilst fellow americans "babykillers" are brutally tortured in pow camps, and Daniel Pearl is beheaded on camera by brave courage laden patriots of islam, the list could go on and on and on....but I think my point is clear, and so is my outrage at those gelded twats they call a city council......ps....SEMPER FI..... riff