Under the proposed Sunshine Ordinance, there will be more City Council meetings and more extensive public comment. Photo: John C. Osborn The citizen committee behind the Berkeley Sunshine Ordinance on the November ballot has sent city officials a lawyer’s letter threatening a lawsuit unless changes are made to the wording of both the ballot question […]
Berkeley City Council
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Posted inCommunity
Stop thief! Councilmember turns cop, solves crime
Berkeley City Councilmember Susan Wengraf says she is considering a second career as a Berkeley police officer — maybe. Photo: Mark Berger Berkeley City Councilmember Susan Wengraf says she is considering a second career as a Berkeley police officer — maybe. Photo: Mark Berger On a recent Friday evening, City Councilmember Susan Wengraf put on […]
Posted inCity, Schools
City Council approves pools measure, debates streets
Council voted to put a pools measure on the ballot. Willard Pool, which was filled with dirt in 2011, is top of mind. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel Council voted to put a pools measure on the ballot. Willard Pool, which was filled with dirt in 2011, is top of mind. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel A comparatively quiet City Council meeting sprang into life […]
Posted inCity
City, citizens debate substandard streets, a closed pool
Mayor Tom Bates: “What seems to me the overriding problem of this city is the streets and the state of our water systems.” Photo: Tracey Taylor The bulk of this week’s Berkeley City Council meeting was consumed by public comment and council member debate on potential city measures for the November general election ballot. The three […]
Posted inCity
Council hears police, transit plans, appoints city manager
All of the city's department heads stood at the back of the hall for the appointment of Christine Daniel as city manager. Photo: Lance Knobel The largest part of last night’s City Council meeting was consumed by public comment and council debate over potential ballot measures for the November election (full report coming later). But […]
Posted inOpinion
Save our pools: Invest in people, close the opportunity gap
When the last bell rings and school is out for the summer, I want my fifth graders to be reading, having adventures, and… doing cannonballs. Swimming is good, clean fun — and pools offer water safety, fitness, healthy social development (removed from phones, television and video games) and a sense of community. Prior to 2010, […]
Posted inCommunity
West Berkeley Project a step closer to being adopted
The West Berkeley plan was under discussion again Tuesday, and will have a final vote on June 12. Photo: Tracey Taylor The Berkeley City Council Tuesday night moved the controversial West Berkeley Project one step further towards adoption when it approved a series of amendments and modifications designed to mollify critics. The entire plan will come before the […]
Posted inCrime & Safety
Berkeley home, crime hotbed, declared a public nuisance
Local residents describe 1722 Ninth Street, which has been declared a public nuisance, as “the neighbors from hell” Local residents describe 1722 Ninth Street, which has been declared a public nuisance, as “the neighbors from hell” Last night, a West Berkeley home that has been the nexus for serious crime and drug dealing for 30 […]
Posted inCity
Unfunded liabilities prompt initiative, council resolution
Street repair is one of the major deferred maintenance costs the city faces. Photo: Tracey Taylor A ballot initiative to force the city to do biennial reports on obligations for employee and retiree expenses and for Berkeley’s physical infrastructure and capital assets appears likely to appear on the ballot in the November election, according to […]
Posted inCity
Sophie Hahn announces candidacy for City Council
Sophie Hahn: running for Berkeley City Council this year Sophie Hahn, who grew up in Berkeley and sits on the city’s Zoning Adjustments Board, has announced she is running for City Council District 5, which is currently the post held by Laurie Capitelli. Hahn says she will provide a different brand of leadership, one that […]
Posted inCommunity
Dozens speak out about controversial West Berkeley plan
More than 60 people lined up in City Council chambers Tuesday to talk about proposed zoning changes in West Berkeley. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel So many people came to the City Council meeting Tuesday night to talk about a new plan that could put 100-foot towers in West Berkeley that they could not all fit into […]
Posted inCommunity
Community examines state of Berkeley’s Latino residents
Dolores Huerta, co-founder with Cesar Chavez of UFW (right), watches Berkeley’s High’s Aztec Dancers on Thursday night. Photo: Judith Scherr Dolores Huerta, co-founder with Cesar Chavez of UFW (right), watches Berkeley’s High’s Aztec Dancers on Thursday night. Photo: Judith Scherr By Judith Scherr Berkeley’s Latino community and allies came together Thursday evening to celebrate the 50-year […]