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 […]
Berkeley City Council
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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 […]
Posted inCrime & Safety
Few comments on Chief Meehan before Council session
Public comments preceding a closed session of the Berkeley City Council Monday night were limited. Photo courtesy City of Berkeley Expectations that many members of the Berkeley community would turn up at the public comment part of a closed session of the City Council Monday night to express their views on the recent incident concerning Berkeley Police Chief […]
Posted inCity
Berkeley’s Mayor lays groundwork for reelection bid
Bates: "I will make an announcement in the next couple of weeks." Photo: Lance Knobel Mayor Tom Bates this week filed the necessary campaign finance forms that would enable him to run for reelection this November. “I had to file the report, but I’m not officially running for reelection,” Bates told Berkeleyside. “I will make […]
Posted inCity
Berkeley to reassess Wells Fargo, open account to bids
The City of Berkeley will look at switching its account out of Wells Fargo. Photo: Lance Knobel Last night Berkeley’s City Council voted unanimously to review its banking arrangements with Wells Fargo when the current contract expires at the end of 2012. This followed a recommendation by councilmembers Jesse Arreguín and Darryl Moore to consider alternatives to the 160-year-old […]
Posted inCrime & Safety
Local towing company spotlighted in parking ruckus
A man believed to be a Hustead's employee removes handmade signs about parking in the Trader Joe's neighborhood in downtown Berkeley By Linda Hemmila Residents and workers in the area surrounding Trader Joe’s in downtown Berkeley allege that a local towing company under contract to the city is removing signs made by neighbors to warn […]
Posted inCity
City Council looks for new Berkeley meeting space
The City Council currently meets in the Maudelle Shirek building but is looking for new meeting space. After looking at 11 possible locations to hold future City Council meetings, Berkeley city staff is recommending that the council select between the auditorium at Berkeley City College, the multipurpose room at the North Berkeley Senior Center, and […]
Posted inCity
City looks to tackle noise issue from news helicopters
It's been a news-heavy few months in Berkeley recently with an unusually high number of media helicopters taking to the skies The city government will consider taking action on the issue of the noise pollution caused by news helicopters with councilmember Jesse Arreguín (district 4) bringing an item to the consent calendar at Tuesday’s City Council meeting […]
Posted inCity
Berkeley City Manager Phil Kamlarz: The exit interview
Former city manager Phil Kamlarz, just before his retirement Phil Kamlarz, city manager for eight years and a city employee for 36, retired this month. He first became a Berkeley city employee as a temporary associate accountant in the Berkeley Public Library in 1975, and a year later transferred to the city manager’s office. He […]