“Helps People. Saves Jobs.” This is the campaign slogan in favor of Measure S, the “Civil Sidewalks” ordinance on Berkeley’s ballot next Tuesday. Proponents argue that by banning sitting in commercial areas during business hours, Measure S will increase economic activity and help homeless people access social services. Like anyone who lives in Berkeley, we have grappled with issues […]
Homelessness
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 inOpinion
Op-Ed: Santa Cruz is a model for Berkeley civil sidewalks
In the early 1990s, Pacific Avenue merchants were suffering in Santa Cruz. We had encampments of youth sitting on our sidewalks in front of businesses and in our public spaces, often with pit bulls and belongings. They engaged in unwelcoming aggressive panhandling and rowdy behavior, frequently fueled by drugs and alcohol. Many Santa Cruzans—particularly seniors […]
Posted inOpinion
Say yes on Measure S: help those living on the streets
Earlier this month I spent several afternoons walking along Telegraph and then Shattuck Avenues because I wanted to talk one-on-one with the people, particularly the young people, who are sitting and lying on the streets panhandling. I judged that almost all of them have serious alcohol and/or drug problems and many of them are also […]
Posted inOpinion
Five lies about Measure S — from both sides of the debate
According to Goebbels, you could establish a lie as true by repeating the lie often, and loudly. This worked until the collapse of the Third Reich. Berkeley is presently up to its eyeballs in an emotional debate over a proposed sitting ban in business districts — Measure “S.” To read the pros and cons on what […]
Posted inOpinion
Yes on Measure S mailer is full of falsehoods
Recently a mailer went out across Berkeley that puts a false ‘kinder, gentler’ spin on Measure S than actually lies at the heart of this ordinance. The language on the mailer sounds good, naturally. “Yes on S: Helps People. Saves Jobs.” A grand claim that warrants some fact-checking. “Helps People”. Moving homeless people away from […]
Posted inOpinion
Measure S is a step backwards for Berkeley
When I told my five-year-old that it could soon be illegal to sit on a sidewalk in Berkeley, he said, “But we sit on the sidewalk!” I saw him imagining the police arresting him and his two-year-old sister and reassured him. “They’ll probably mostly give tickets to homeless people,” I said. “Why will they give […]
Posted inOpinion
Op-ed on Measure S: We can do better with civil sidewalks
Like most people I wear several hats. In my case that includes Telegraph Avenue small business owner, Berkeley resident, local shopper, member of the Telegraph Business Improvement District (TBID), and commissioner on the Berkeley Homeless Commission. The different roles can have different biases. However I feel confident endorsing Measure S from all of these perspectives. […]
Posted inCity
No and Yes on Measure S, Moore campaigns kick off
The Brass Liberation Orchestra played at the campaign kick-off for No on Measure S. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel Under bright blue skies, an arc of orange balloons, and the sound of the Brass Liberation Band, the “No on S” campaign held its campaign kick-off rally in Constitution Square near the Berkeley BART station on Sunday. About […]
Posted inCommunity
BOSS prepares for director’s exit, plans golf fundraiser
Executive director boona cheema reviews paperwork with a member of BOSS’s Community Organizing Team. Photos: Natalie Orenstein Executive director boona cheema reviews paperwork with a member of BOSS’s Community Organizing Team. Photos: Natalie Orenstein The multi-pronged approach to combating homelessness at Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS) is based on the belief that society knows what works, […]
Posted inCommunity
Downtown Berkeley ambassadors help, monitor homeless
Carmen Francois, a downtown Berkeley Ambassador, talks to someone on Shattuck Avenue. Photo: Natalie Orenstein On a recent Tuesday afternoon, Carmen Francois was on a mission. “We’re supposed to say hi to 60 people in 60 minutes,” she said. Francois, one of Berkeley’s downtown “ambassadors,” didn’t have any trouble meeting the quota. She ducked into […]
Posted inCity
Berkeley sitting ban progresses toward November ballot
A group of young adults wakes up after spending the night on Telegraph Avenue recently. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel In a contentious meeting that lasted until the wee hours of the morning and exposed deep divisions in Berkeley, the City Council voted early Wednesday to proceed with a measure that would put a sit-lie ordinance on […]