The biggest news of the week was the resignation of Berkeley Unified School District President Leah Wilson effective March 31. She is taking a job as Court Executive Officer for the Alameda County Superior Court and was advised that the role presented a potential conflict of interest in future litigation. “It’s beyond bittersweet,” said Wilson. “It’s an incredible career opportunity and at the same time it has resulted in my not being able to fulfill the commitment I had made.”
Readers had a lot to say about an effort by Jefferson School fourth graders to bring back their classmate Rodrigo Guzman from Mexico. Rodrigo, who moved to Berkeley when he was 18 months old, was denied reentry into the United States because his parents’ visas had expired. The City Council passed a resolution asking the U.S. government to consider a humanitarian response to the family’s plight. They also had strong opinions about the new highrise proposed for downtown Berkeley.
The city seemed to go beer crazy this week. Sierra Nevada announced it will set up a tasting room on Fourth Street near University Avenue. The city approved Rare Barrel, which will brew sour beer at 937 Carleton St. Officials also approved an application for a nano-brewpub in the Lorin District at 1763 Alcatraz Ave.
Berkeleyside tried something new: An “Ask Me Anything” session with CPA Hank Levy, who answered all sorts of questions from readers. Hank, who owns Henry C. Levy & Co, focused on questions relating to taxes.
And once again we had a stunning photo essay by Elaine Miller Bond, this one on shorebirds.
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