A graffiti complaint prompted the city to cover up the mural that helped inspire the City Council to pursue reparations in Berkeley. The neighbors who created the mural are considering next steps.
Ben Bartlett
Posted inCity
A walk through history in the heart of Berkeley’s Black community
Hear William Rumford III share the significance of his grandfather’s pharmacy and Tina Jones Williams tell the story of Kramer’s beauty salon as you relive a Black History Month walking tour from the South Berkeley Legacy Project.
Posted inCity
Up in the air: Negotiations between Berkeley and BART tie up plan for housing at Ashby station
Berkeley officials want community benefits in exchange for waiving their “air rights” over the station. BART may not agree.
Posted inCity
South Berkeley Here There encampment closed after 6 years
Activists, many of whom have passed away, set up the sober camp in 2017 as a protest movement.
Posted inCity
Will sexual harassment allegations derail Jen Louis’ appointment as Berkeley police chief?
A report detailing past sexual harassment claims against Louis comes as the interim chief faces scrutiny in another scandal.
Posted inCity
Should Berkeley have a city flag, motto and official song?
Councilmember Ben Bartlett thinks picking symbols that capture Berkeley could spark civic pride after pandemic isolation.
Posted inCity
Share your ideas for Berkeley’s flag, song and motto
A councilmember wants to hold a contest to pick the city’s civic symbols — but first, we want to hear from you!
Posted inCity
Council approves 7-story housing at Ashby, North Berkeley BART stations
The projects could bring more than 5,400 new residents to the city and result in 465 new jobs, according to staff.
Posted inCity
Berkeley may explore making reparations to Black residents
If Berkeley proceeds, it will be one of the few municipalities to directly grapple with the country’s legacy of enslavement.
Posted inCity
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.
Posted inCity
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.
Posted inCrime & Safety
Police: Man with assault rifle arrested after gunfire at 62nd and King streets
“It’s just unreal what that one block has had to go through,” said South Berkeley Councilmember Ben Bartlett.
