Traffic may be rough come school season, but the construction project closing Allston Way outside Berkeley High School is significant: the city’s first major permeable pavement installation. The block of Allston between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street in downtown Berkeley is shut down for construction until mid-November while the city installs new environmentally friendly pavement, according to the […]
Charles Siler
Posted inCity
Berkeley appoints first ‘chief resilience officer’
As a city, Berkeley prides itself on being prepared. Officials hope the recent appointment of a “resilience officer” to coordinate city-wide defenses against natural disasters will be another step in that direction — this time with the help of the Rockefeller Foundation. In mid-July, Berkeley appointed Timothy Burroughs to the position of chief resilience officer, a new post created as […]
Posted inCommunity
Berkeley to join National Night Out celebration Tuesday
More than 50 Berkeley community organizations and neighborhood groups will host block parties Tuesday night as part of a national campaign to foster community spirit and increase awareness about public safety and disaster preparedness. The events are part of the 31st annual celebration of National Night Out, a program “to heighten crime prevention awareness, generate support for and participation […]
Posted inCity
Berkeley councilman faces PR man in ‘soda tax’ debate
Though they were arguing about sugar, Councilman Laurie Capitelli and Los Angeles PR man Matt Rodriguez were anything but sweet to each other at a Monday debate about a ballot measure set to come before Berkeley voters in November. The lunchtime discussion, hosted by the Berkeley Chamber of Commerce, was about the controversial Berkeley sugar-sweetened beverage tax set […]
Posted inCommunity
Ralph Nader speaks at rally to save Berkeley post office
Longtime political activist Ralph Nader spoke Tuesday afternoon at a demonstration at the downtown Berkeley post office on Allston Way in support of the on-going fight to stop the U.S. Postal Service from selling the 1914 building. “This is not just a matter of stamps or delivery on Saturdays, important as that is,” Nader said to the crowd. “This is a […]
Posted inEvents
The It List: Five things to do in Berkeley this weekend
KITE FESTIVAL The 29th annual Berkeley Kite Fest will take place Saturday and Sunday in César Chavez Park. The free festival will feature kite making and flying lessons, as well as food and craft activities. A traditional Japanese kite-flying team will also be there to showcase their technique. The festival begins at 10 a.m. each day […]
Posted inCity, Nature
New drought rules would see Berkeley reduce its water use
This week the state Water Resources Control Board will consider emergency restrictions on water use that would require the city of Berkeley to impose fines for certain types of outdoor water use. If approved, the Water Board’s drought measures would require Berkeley to levy fines of up to $500 for excessive water use while cleaning sidewalks, watering plants, cleaning cars, […]
Posted inHousing & Development
Construction to begin on 6-story development
Demolition has begun on the lot at the corner of Shattuck Avenue and Dwight Way, bringing down the building that was home to furniture store Modernaire, which has moved to a new location. In its place will be a new, 6-story mixed-use housing development, construction of which is set to begin in September. Menlo Management Company is behind the development at […]
Posted inBusiness
Shop Talk: The ins and outs of Berkeley businesses
MISSION HEIRLOOM CAFÉ Gluten-free, grain-free and soy-free offerings will be available at Mission Heirloom Café, which opens this fall in North Berkeley’s Gourmet Ghetto. The restaurant will move into 2085 Vine St. where much-loved vegetarian Chinese restaurant Vegi Food operated until 2012. The Heirloom Café will be serving organic, non-GMO cuisine and Intelligista coffee. The café will have outdoor […]
Posted inCity
Berkeley puts sugar tax on November ballot; could be first city in country to take on Big Soda
The Berkeley City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to include a proposal that would tax distributors of sugar-sweetened beverages on the November ballot. The measure, which proposes a 1-cent-per-ounce charge at the distributor level, would be the first such tax passed in the country. Richmond tried to pass a similar tax in 2012, but it […]
Posted inNature
Dog owners beg City of Berkeley to remove dangerous foxtails at César Chávez Park
Berkeley dog owners are pleading with the city to clear the off-leash dog area at César Chávez Park of foxtails, an invasive grass whose barbed seed heads can cause serious injury to dogs. The Berkeley Animal Care Commission sent a letter to City Council which was circulated at their June 18 meeting urging for a “regular, frequent, […]
Posted inCity
Berkeley sets new minimum wage; up to $12.53 by 2016
The Berkeley City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to officially adopt the city’s new minimum wage ordinance, setting hourly pay on a course to reach $12.53 by October 2016. The city’s new law will raise Berkeley’s minimum wage to $10 per hour this October, then to $11 after one year. A statewide increase to $9 per hour takes effect July 1. The journey […]