
Berkeleyside publishes many opinion pieces submitted by readers in its Opinionator section.
Terry Pink Alexander, the former director of development at Head Royce School and the former executive director of the Judah L. Magnes Museum, argued in an op-ed published on March 4 that children from disadvantaged communities benefit tremendously from seeing live theater, and we should help facilitate that.
Singer, writer and veteran activist of social justice movements Carol Denney wrote in an op-ed published March 16 says so-called “tiny houses,” while cute, are not the solution for homeless people, despite what Berkeley mayoral candidate Mike Lee says.
Ted Edlin, who has served on many local government commissions over the years, argued that too much is wrong in Berkeley and the powers that be are not on the job. “If you want police, and fire protection, and affordable garbage collection, you had better start to pay attention because ignoring the problem is going to cost you an arm and a leg and maybe your life,” he wrote.
And Leslie Smith, a writer and long-time volunteer at Berkeley Animal Care Shelter, wrote of the death threats received by the shelter after they recently put down a dog there. Addressing those who protested, she wrote: “If we are truly to make a difference for the animals we claim to love so much, we have no choice but to face each other. Not from the behind the protection of an anonymous flier, but bravely and civilly, prepared to admit that sometimes there are no comfortable answers.”
If you would like to add your voice, please share your comments on the individual op-eds.
Berkeleyside welcomes submissions of op-ed articles. We ask that we are given first refusal to publish. Topics should be Berkeley-related, local authors are preferred, and we don’t publish anonymous pieces. Email submissions, as Word documents or embedded in the email, to editors@berkeleyside.com. The recommended length is 500-800 words. Please include your name and a one-line bio that includes full, relevant disclosures. Berkeleyside will publish op-ed pieces at its discretion.