http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c?format=rss Tribe.net. Local Connections http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#13d1819b-4537-46ab-aa59-3906c318dfae Here's e-mails to the Berkeley City Council and Mayor's office (someone asked for contact info for people responsible - ultimately, City Leadership is responsible for city departments and the choices they make). mayor@ci.berkeley.ca.us lmaio@ci.berkeley.ca.us dmoore@ci.berkeley.ca.us manderson@ci.berkeley.ca.us spring@ci.berkeley.ca.us lcapitelli@ci.berkeley.ca.us olds@ci.berkeley.ca.us kworthington@ci.berkeley.ca.us GWozniak@ci.berkeley.ca.us clerk@ci.berkeley.ca.us I just e-mailed them all my disgust at their total failure as leaders in this situation, letting down both the arts and the environment by planning to shut down this facility. Sat, 12 May 2007 21:23:25 GMT http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#13d1819b-4537-46ab-aa59-3906c318dfae Puck 2007-05-12T21:23:25Z http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#e74c9286-f0f9-48c8-8aa6-9d4ba94a4dbd Here is the piece that Channel 2 did. They were very kind, they could have made us look really bad. http://www.ktvu.com/video/13307846/index.html?source= Sat, 12 May 2007 21:14:48 GMT http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#e74c9286-f0f9-48c8-8aa6-9d4ba94a4dbd Kimric 2007-05-12T21:14:48Z http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#73f40a67-d556-407e-b5d2-a5597c0878ad this is clipped fromO'Reilly Radar, sorry, I'm getting tired... First, let me assure everyone that I now know more about shipping container architecture than most of you will ever know, or would care to know. It has gone way beyond that discussion at this point. The shipping containers are a “hairy arm” representing something much deeper. Yes, it has a lot to do with artistic mentality, non-conformity, health & safety, mutual respect, etc. There very well may have been a time when the City would have cooperated and let us bring everything up to code. I wish I had gotten involved years ago, but we are way beyond that point now. The immediate issue now is that the order to vacate & abate, it very clearly states, vacate the premises and empty the containers in three days or risk fines & jail. They are not allowed back until the work is complete, which would be at least six months out. Chief Orth was very firm about that. Jim has decided to move the containers so that people can continue to work this summer. The various officials have crafted the letter in such a way to get Jim’s attention and show him they mean business. It is official, to the point and contains typical building code issues. It’s what they don’t say that has us worried. If you read between the lines, the time frames are impossible and the requirements to analyze the containers at a level that has never been done before kills the current project. Can art survive? Can art spaces be brought up to code? Of course they can. The Crucible is now thriving. Cellspace was brought back to life. SOMARTS remains a cultural hub and Project Artaud bought the building and is untouchable. Is their time to save the Shipyard and sit down with the City to work out an agreement? Yes, there is. Can Jim and his associates afford to do it right in that time frame? No, they can’t. The current construction budget is $100,000. The required calculations alone are in the $60,000 range. I personally have donated about $10,000 of my time and need to donate at least another $15,000 worth of time to finish. We still don’t have Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing engineers, that’s at least $30,000. To abate the violations and do this thing right is more in the $300,000 range for construction costs alone. So, unless our community can pull together funds to the tune of $750,000 there’s really no point in continuing down that path any longer. Even if we could raise the money, the City would want to see a nice new building instead. .....I am doing my best here to keep people abreast of the facts as I know them. I am wearing my Les Young architect hat. I am showing restraint. I am trying to prevent a riot. Les Izzmore, the Burning Man fire safety guy (a close and personal friend of Les Young the architect) would rather see a very different outcome. Les Izzmore would love to tell all of you what's really going on. Les Izzmore would like to send free tickets to the Burn to everyone who signed the letter & put them up in RV's so they can see what's going to happen in the desert this year. Les Izzmore wants to talk about flame thrower fire safety with the Chief over bacon and beer in the Shipyard while a newly topless structural inpector helps weld shipping containers to the ground with the Flaming Lotus Girls when we get back from Black Rock! Sat, 12 May 2007 20:40:33 GMT http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#73f40a67-d556-407e-b5d2-a5597c0878ad Les 2007-05-12T20:40:33Z http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#d186bae3-573b-42c6-ad5d-11c8d83f4149 Neverwas has found a home.... and the crew matains its humor! http://tribes.tribe.net/neverwas/thread/de16c9aa-78a3-447f-ae91-120957c684ee buy a shirt or something when they become available, go see them at the Makers Fare Sat, 12 May 2007 01:03:08 GMT http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#d186bae3-573b-42c6-ad5d-11c8d83f4149 Peter 2007-05-12T01:03:08Z http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#54d5724f-4489-4af5-82e6-945c6a723707 I have little faith in the goodwill of berkeley, Jim did actualy spend a lot of money in trying to get this place approved. I suspect it might have been done better but in the end it would appear that they never had any intention of letting us use containers. Portland among other cities have done some really nice things with them. Claiming that they have not been seismicly appraised is just a easy way to avoid dealing with us. The tests that they require are beyond any reason. They know we can't afford that ,and all it would acheve is what is painfully obvious to anyone who has done any construction more complicated than assemble a IKEA sofa. "Just doing their job" is just a cop out. Sat, 12 May 2007 00:59:32 GMT http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#54d5724f-4489-4af5-82e6-945c6a723707 Kimric 2007-05-12T00:59:32Z http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#41704bfb-e2bd-4646-a03f-91e73eaea7b1 so sorry to here about this. it truly blows donkey. best of luck for all the art refugees. I hope they find the resources they need and have as smooth a transition as possible. Sat, 12 May 2007 00:38:39 GMT http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#41704bfb-e2bd-4646-a03f-91e73eaea7b1 Ms.Dynomite 2007-05-12T00:38:39Z http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#51d5d8cb-10f9-42c9-aa21-89e3f27fd62c All relevant docs and updates here: http://www.theshipyard.org/ The last paragraph of Jim's plan perfectly summarizes the spirit and elan that has made/makes/will make The Shipyard such a creative, catalytic place: i am currently exploring nimby, pacific pipe, boxshop, ace and some known open buildings as a place we might fast relocate en masse. we have two trucks. one runs. and we have a forklift that will lift all this. somewhat like always intended.how we decide to continue for the longer run can be debated in the relative calm of the fall. all options will be open. but for now, my prime goal is to keep the collaborative art/tech juggernaut of the shipyard together and functional for the summer heroics. and to do so, i think our best option is to go mobile . . . immediately . . . the adventure will continue. giant machines will save us. j If you have resources that might be valuable in this time of need, drop by The Shipyard and let them know. The Shipyard is dead. Long live The Shipyard. Sat, 12 May 2007 00:30:51 GMT http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#51d5d8cb-10f9-42c9-aa21-89e3f27fd62c Tom 2007-05-12T00:30:51Z http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#f62cc4c3-6feb-46ca-b283-71d8d800a783 No, the city has just had enough. They mean business this time and are holding a gun to Jim's head to make sure he complies this time. When he started putting containers on the adjacent lot, the city came out in force and found even more violations than before. No matter how you cut it, the property must be vacated until after proper permits have been obtained & the work is completed. Even in an ideal world, this would be well after Burning Man. Since the main concern is the community and the work, rather than the "space", Everyone is scattering to other communities. They are nothing short of "art refugees" at this point. They need political asylum in other towns, refuge in other communities. They need our help & support in relocation. If it gets ugly, we'll let you know. If Jim gets fined or arrested, we'll raise cash & get lawyers for him. Jim is trying to do the most responsible thing peacefully and look after his family. We're hoping the City agrees to let them leave town without incident. Coming down on the City officials, who are just doing their job will not help at this point. Its gone too far for too long. Jim is willing to move on. We should support his decision. Fri, 11 May 2007 22:13:36 GMT http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#f62cc4c3-6feb-46ca-b283-71d8d800a783 Les 2007-05-11T22:13:36Z http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#6b7766fc-616e-4ed0-a85e-6d821af517d6 What makes a city, a city, get suddenly all hate-ey? Someone there doing a city councilman's son/daughter? Developers bought some council members? I really am curious. Sas Fri, 11 May 2007 21:59:17 GMT http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#6b7766fc-616e-4ed0-a85e-6d821af517d6 Sasquatch 2007-05-11T21:59:17Z http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#6092897c-0fca-43ee-9304-2b826415eee3 "Maybe you're not PC enough? " EXACTLY! If the place was billed as a nuclear-free environmental research facility to fight global warming also acting as an emergency ferret sanctuary and shelter for battered lesbians who makes their money from hemp art and also serves the community as a pot club and does the entire thing according to strict vegan ethics ... there is NO WAY you could be touched. I suspect they simply need the money to pay for their new city employee healthcare plan. Fri, 11 May 2007 20:08:54 GMT http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#6092897c-0fca-43ee-9304-2b826415eee3 Geekster 2007-05-11T20:08:54Z http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#e68f10a3-9dea-4c4c-9e37-00ddabdcc92e A link about the situation, by the founder of MAKE magazine. "http://radar.oreilly.com/" Boing Boing has one too. Make is sending somone over as I write this. Fri, 11 May 2007 20:00:05 GMT http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#e68f10a3-9dea-4c4c-9e37-00ddabdcc92e Kimric 2007-05-11T20:00:05Z http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#58035668-e594-4a21-a872-5141c7d70e16 It looks like a lot of the folks there are going to need help moving. A lot of really heavy equipment. The shipyard has a tribe you could try there regarding assistance. Thanks Fri, 11 May 2007 19:19:23 GMT http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#58035668-e594-4a21-a872-5141c7d70e16 Kimric 2007-05-11T19:19:23Z http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#1b3fc840-79b7-4f87-9d25-61e2df3dafde Count me in. I'll do whatever I can. Fri, 11 May 2007 18:58:57 GMT http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#1b3fc840-79b7-4f87-9d25-61e2df3dafde Kestrachern 2007-05-11T18:58:57Z http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#88225af8-83e6-4f2e-8ba3-b4a348431a5f We're standing by, waiting to assist if we can. Fri, 11 May 2007 18:31:34 GMT http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#88225af8-83e6-4f2e-8ba3-b4a348431a5f B. 2007-05-11T18:31:34Z http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#86c34f60-6416-41d4-bd31-87fe65201c0e Whats the action plan? Let us know what we can do to help. Fri, 11 May 2007 15:21:06 GMT http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#86c34f60-6416-41d4-bd31-87fe65201c0e Gothalot 2007-05-11T15:21:06Z http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#1f1d6f7a-9d82-4b97-90bb-ab8f020d36a4 "but whatever the case, all professionals are agreeing that berkeley has no interest in working with us further, and we have no possibility for any sort of successful legalization with them." Berkely? Maybe you're not PC enough? Sas Fri, 11 May 2007 14:18:58 GMT http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#1f1d6f7a-9d82-4b97-90bb-ab8f020d36a4 Sasquatch 2007-05-11T14:18:58Z http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#ed377991-7aed-47bc-b568-00630e455d5f What a shame. Jim, you are a trouper. I can just picture the mythical Neverwas hauling and clanking through the streets of Berkeley in the wee hours steamy mist, escaping persecution, to its new sanctuary. Perhaps they want to put more condos in... Wishing you guys good luck! Fri, 11 May 2007 06:56:31 GMT http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#ed377991-7aed-47bc-b568-00630e455d5f Dan D. Lyon 2007-05-11T06:56:31Z http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#b7a133be-f821-47c8-b86c-3ff8f56d7b54 That just sucks. Fri, 11 May 2007 01:46:01 GMT http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#b7a133be-f821-47c8-b86c-3ff8f56d7b54 Elaine~ 2007-05-11T01:46:01Z http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#98a4cf2b-737c-43d4-991c-d9672fa34368 I will when these are available. Newest info as of a few min ago follows. I suspect this has a lot to do with the condos built around us. This just posted by Jim. (written on lovely off-grid juice once again served up by the LAG). we have talked further with the fire marshall. he is very serious about enforcement and fines. there is no wiggle room on their demands. he is saying unequivocally he will write a 2500 dollar fine tomorrow if his conditions are not met. furthermore, the more we review what they are asking for, and the manner in which they have cornered us from all possible directions, it is clear they have decided they do not want this facility here. we can speculate as to why they have encouraged and tolerated us for years, and worked with us to make it legal, but now have hit in the most brutal of manner. maybe the berkeley bowl across the street is the cataylst. maybe simply our expansion into the new building. but whatever the case, all professionals are agreeing that berkeley has no interest in working with us further, and we have no possibility for any sort of successful legalization with them. in short, we cannot win here. but that does not mean that we cannot win largely elsewhere. with such in mind, i am currently negotiating other spaces outside the city of berkeley where we might quickly move all our shop containers so that work can continue for the summer build season. Fri, 11 May 2007 01:40:00 GMT http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#98a4cf2b-737c-43d4-991c-d9672fa34368 Kimric 2007-05-11T01:40:00Z http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#e51c2eac-1496-4fa2-9611-77f23fc22459 Can you post contact numbers and email address for the people responsible? I'd also suggest getting the Press in on this! Good luck!!! KK Fri, 11 May 2007 00:46:54 GMT http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#e51c2eac-1496-4fa2-9611-77f23fc22459 Kamikaze 2007-05-11T00:46:54Z http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#10d39d0a-baf7-4478-adf9-ec33fc43232b The city of Berkeley has flipped out on Jim Mason amd served us with a three day notice to vacate. Our power was cut by the city this AM and we are being forced to dismantle our solar to prevent us from generating our own power. Some of the gripes by the city are valid but others are delibrately obtuse.(shipping containers are not earthquake rated?!) This has put Neverwas, and Jims Mechabolic project in peril. Ironicly both projects are research projects into alt energy. We are currently seeing where we stand with permits and the like, but we will need a lot of support. Fri, 11 May 2007 00:36:43 GMT http://bm.tribe.net/thread/14a63c37-b66c-4fee-a9bb-f4026a6b773c#10d39d0a-baf7-4478-adf9-ec33fc43232b Kimric 2007-05-11T00:36:43Z