Patrons who need a replacement card can choose from among four designs. See all of the design options here. Photo: Berkeley Public Library Starting this week, the Berkeley Public Library is forgiving overdue fines for patrons with outstanding bills and items. The amnesty program, in effect through Saturday, Nov. 17, is a way to bring […]
Emilie Raguso
Emilie Raguso (former senior editor, news) joined Berkeleyside in 2012 and covered politics, public safety and development until her departure in 2022. In 2017, Emilie was named Journalist of the Year by SPJ NorCal. In 2021, she won SPJ NorCal's longform journalism award (print, small division) for her investigation into the death of Gulf War veteran Michael Hermon after he was attacked at Santa Rita Jail. Her reporting on homelessness has also been recognized by SPJ NorCal, and she has been part of Berkeleyside teams to win Community Journalism awards from SPJ NorCal three times. Emilie previously launched and ran beloved community news site Albany Patch.
Posted inCommunity
Election email overload: What gives?
One California voter takes a look at a day of campaign mailers, noting, “They’re not going to influence my vote, but they will help heat my house this winter.” Photo: Robert Couse-Baker By November in a big election year, many residents are familiar with the daily handful of campaign literature that bursts forth from the […]
Posted inCity
Where to watch election results in Berkeley
With the nation focused on the outcome of the presidential election Tuesday night, we’ve compiled this list of where you can join friends, neighbors and fellow community members to experience the results together. Let us know in the comments below if we missed a great event at your favorite spot. We definitely want to hear […]
Posted inCommunity
Why do some absentee voters get free postage?
Some Alameda County residents received mail-in ballots with the postage already paid. Photo: Peter Sussman Last week, after reading Berkeleyside’s round-up on postage costs for mail-in ballots, we heard from one reader who described himself as “truly baffled.” Officials had said voters in Berkeley had absentee ballots requiring postage up to $1.50 due to multiple […]
Posted inCommunity
Berkeley Community Media puts spotlight on local stories
Berkeley Community Media is waiting for your story. Photo: Michael Vaughn Starting Sunday, public access station Berkeley Community Media is inviting city residents to “come on down” to share stories, jokes, songs and more. “We really want to give Berkeley residents a voice,” said Michael Vaughn, an operations manager for the station, Channel 28 on Comcast. (It […]
Posted inBusiness
Berkeley praises Bayer, city’s largest for-profit employer
Congresswoman Barbara Lee joined local 11th graders at Career Day at Bayer on May 14, 2012. Photo: Bayer Over the years, Berkeley’s largest for-profit employer has contributed $20 million to the city, created hundreds of jobs, developed paid science training programs for youth and invested in a community foundation to support key health and education […]
Posted inCity
Measure S: Will it help or hurt the homeless?
Measure S would prohibit sitting on the sidewalk, during certain hours, in Berkeley’s commercial districts. Photo: Emilie Raguso Measure S would prohibit sitting on the sidewalk, during certain hours, in Berkeley’s commercial districts. Photo: Emilie Raguso On Nov. 6, Berkeley voters will decide whether to approve a controversial ordinance to ban, in most cases, sitting […]
Posted inCity
Berkeley says ‘no’ to federal immigration detainers
A battle for immigrants’ rights has been intensifying throughout 2012, as deportations linked to the federal Secure Communities program, run by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, have risen. Here, protesters outside an ICE processing facility in Colorado call for an end to enforcement efforts. Photo: Justin Valas In a surprising twist, the Berkeley City Council […]
Posted inCommunity
Do police enforce parking rules on skinny hill streets?
Berkeley hills: a reader wonders whether ‘no parking’ signs are enforced in the area’s narrow streets. Photo: Google Maps Berkeley hills: a reader wonders whether ‘no parking’ signs are enforced in the area’s narrow streets. Photo: Google Maps In response to our first installation of Ask Berkeleyside, in which we requested your questions about mysteries […]
Posted inCity
Which Berkeley council campaigns shopped local?
Candidates’ expenditure includes creating signs. Photo: Emilie Raguso With the next round of election finance statements due Thursday, Berkeleyside took a look at which City Council candidates have kept their spending local for campaign materials and services. Not surprisingly, candidates posted their largest expenses to date for the November 2012 election during the year’s second filing period, […]
Posted inCity, Community, Crime & Safety
Neighbors demand safer streets in Berkeley’s District 4
District 4, City of Berkeley (Click to view larger). Image: City of Berkeley More than 40 residents in one of Berkeley’s busiest districts came together last week to voice their frustration about traffic issues on their neighborhood streets. Constant cut-throughs, shrugged-off stop signs, overgrown round-abouts and high speeds were among the concerns shared at a […]
Posted inCity, Schools
Mobile asthma clinic makes its debut at Berkeley school
Outside the Breathmobile at Malcolm X Elementary School, Oct. 18, 2012. Photo: Emilie Raguso A mobile asthma clinic designed to keep kids in school and out of the hospital debuted Thursday at Malcolm X Elementary School in south Berkeley. The Breathmobile, a 33-foot-long Winnebago RV, drew inquisitive looks and questions from students throughout the day. The vehicle was […]
