Berkeley infrastructure, housing measure could top $500M
Street paving, affordable housing at BART could see surge of new funding — if voters back largest-ever ballot measure.
City
Top Stories
Omicron surge still rising in Berkeley; expected to peak by end of January
Cases in Berkeley have shot up by nearly 4,000 since the last week of December, with over 1,000 of those cases recorded since Friday.
Building a cottage in your Berkeley yard? Just make sure to tell the neighbors.
Homeowners in the Berkeley flatlands can now build two-story accessory dwelling units in their yards — as long as they inform their neighbors and tenants first.
City budget
Citing uptick in shootings, council votes for new security cameras in 4 districts
The camera proposal was just one part of a $5 million funding package designed to address traffic safety, social services and more.
Berkeley ponders paid parking to aid cash-strapped Marina Fund
One council member called paid parking “a no-brainer” and others said it would align with the city’s climate goals.
Council seeks $15M state earmark to help revive Berkeley Marina
The marina has $113 million in unfunded infrastructure needs.
Officials vow to increase police staffing, with available officers at historic low
The pledge came amid a lengthy discussion on the annual crime report, use-of-force and police stop data, traffic collision statistics and more.
Coronavirus
Having problems ordering your free rapid COVID-19 tests from USPS?
Roommates, large families, and live-work residents have encountered some challenges accessing tests from the federal government.
Scarce rapid tests force Berkeley nursing homes to make agonizing choices
Most nursing homes don’t have enough rapid tests for managing omicron, leading to poignant decisions on who they can help.
City employees have 95% vaccination rate. Is a booster mandate next?
Berkeley hasn’t decided whether to grant 61 workers’ requests for medical or religious exemptions to the vaccine mandate.
Berkeley is increasing COVID-19 testing availability. Here’s where you can book a test.
Testing demand has increased sharply with a surging Omicron variant.
Housing & Development
96-unit senior home with ground-floor retail set to open in West Berkeley
The building at San Pablo Avenue and Addison Street will have room for a corner restaurant.
Berkeley eyeing a big ballot measure in 2022 for streets, affordable housing
Mayor Jesse Arreguín and others are making the case for a new measure raising hundreds of millions of dollars for infrastructure and housing.
In brief
Berkeley to put $67M towards affordable housing projects
The projects include affordable housing on church properties in South Berkeley and the Homekey hotel in Northwest Berkeley.
UC Berkeley demolishes 112-year-old building to construct student dorm
Before it was knocked down, the rent-controlled building was the focus of a fight between its tenants and UC Berkeley.
Homelessness
A pledge to ‘give meaning to every homeless death’ at Alameda County memorial
According to a forthcoming report, more than 800 unhoused people died in the county over a three-year period, significantly higher than previous estimates.
The Golden Bear Hotel could become permanent housing for homeless residents
If approved, the hotel will be converted into 44 permanent affordable housing units for residents.
Chloe Verron, who died in RV on 2nd Street, remembered as courageous, loving
Chloe moved from New York to California to find a safer, more welcoming space for her gender transition.
Berkeley emergency shelter at capacity for winter season amid storms
Berkeley has recorded 3.75-4.4 inches of rain since the storm began Sunday, with the highest totals in the hills.
Transportation
No rest on Sunday: Free meter parking could end in Berkeley
Supporters say enforcing parking meters on Sundays could help shore up Berkeley’s parking fund, which has been battered by the pandemic.
Street projects at North Berkeley BART aim to make walking, biking safer
A new stoplight at Virginia and Sacramento streets will soon be joined by other changes around the station.
Berkeley ends its ‘Healthy Streets’ road barrier program
The city closed 4.2 miles of Berkeley roads to cars during the pandemic. The city manager says lessons from the program will inform a future bike plan.
New push for Telegraph bus lane seen as step toward car-free future
Officials are considering plans to redesign four busy streets near UC Berkeley. City leaders rejected an effort to add bus lanes to Telegraph more than a decade ago.
Berkeley City Council
Look up your council district. See the Berkeley City Council roster. Review council meeting agendas.
New street paving policy could create ‘Equity Zone’ with priority for repairs
The plan would shift much of the city’s spending from major corridors to neighborhood streets, with a focus on West and South Berkeley.
‘All aboard for the sword’: Officials voice support for new Berkeley pier design
“Sometimes it takes something huge to spark a hard or necessary change,” city staff said.
No, genetically engineered mosquitoes aren’t about to be released in Berkeley
A confusing City Council item last month suggested Alameda County could soon see a release of genetically engineered mosquitoes as part of a state pilot. But the county never agreed to be included in the study.
Related stories
Berkeley Marina boat dwellers evacuated due to tsunami advisory
The order came after an underwater volcano erupted near Tonga.
Swap your cloth mask for a KN95 or N95. Rethink socializing. And more expert omicron advice.
We asked UCSF’s Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo how people can stay safe in the face of the latest COVID-19 variant.
