After the tempestuous City Council discussion on homelessness last week, it’s unsurprising that the issue continues to prompt strong viewpoints. But that’s not the only thing Berkeleyans care about.
In his Opinionator piece, activist JP Massar claims the council majority, which approved a measure dealing with homelessness, is “scamming” the public. While the ordinance calls for storage lockers and showers, Massar writes that no money has been allocated for those actions. “By claiming to provide storage, public restrooms and showers they make us feel good, or at least good enough to shrug and turn away,” he writes.
In a sobering photo essay in Opinionator, North East Berkeley Association president Isabelle Gaston laments the deteriorating state of many of Berkeley’s public buildings and facilities, which she terms “demolition by neglect.” The amount of money the city allocates for infrastructure spending, she writes, “is grossly inadequate.” Gaston wants her essay to spark a conversation and community ideas for action. Add your voice to the comments.
Finally, freelance journalist Michael Levitin takes aim at the “draconian yet little known” Berkeley ordinance that limits street parking to 72 hours. Levitin returned from two weeks away and found that his car had been towed by the city, racking up fees and fines of nearly $2,500. The law, Levitin argues, is especially discriminatory against renters who don’t have an off-street parking space. “This city has smart ambitious climate goals to reduce emissions 33% by 2020, encouraging residents to leave vehicles at home,” he writes. “Yet when we do, we’re penalized for it.”
What do you think? Feel free to leave your reactions to these op-eds in the comments section of each piece.
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