Appearing in ballot order, top row from left, District 6 candidates: Susan Wengraf, Fred Dodsworth, Isabelle Gaston. Photos: Courtesy of the candidates With less than two weeks until election day, District 6 incumbent Susan Wengraf has raised more than twice the cash as both her opponents — Fred Dodsworth and Isabelle Gaston — combined, according to […]
Isabelle Gaston
Posted inCity
Real-estate interests spend $92K to help elect candidates
The PAC for the National Association of Realtors has spent more than $60K on mailers supporting City Councilman Laurie Capitelli’s mayoral campaign. That leaves City Councilman Jesse Arreguín’s mayoral campaign at a severe monetary disadvantage. Photos: Mark Coplan The PAC for the National Association of Realtors has spent more than $60K on mailers supporting City Councilman […]
Posted inCity
Election 2016 Berkeley: Spotlight on District 5, District 6
Appearing in ballot order, top row from left, District 6 candidates: Susan Wengraf, Fred Dodsworth, Isabelle Gaston. Bottom row, from left, District 5: Sophie Hahn, Stephen Murphy. Photos: Courtesy Berkeleyside wants to help you get to know your 2016 candidates for Berkeley City Council, School Board and Rent Stabilization Board. This week, we plan to publish questionnaires […]
Posted inCity
Election 2016: Who is Isabelle Gaston?
Photo: Courtesy of Isabelle Gaston Name: Isabelle Gaston Age: 54 Job: Medical writer (oncology) What office are you are running for? Berkeley City Council, District 6 What is the main reason you are running? The main reason I am running is because I am profoundly disheartened by the state of our City’s infrastructure, fiscal mismanagement, and seemingly […]
Posted inCity
Berkeley candidates share their vision for downtown
The Downtown Berkeley Association sent eight questions on the future of downtown to all candidates standing for office. Here are their answers.
Posted inCity
2 open Berkeley City Council races draw significant cash
We present a round-up of how the different candidates are doing in terms of raising campaign funds.
Posted inCity
The mayor’s race is off and running: Where do campaign coffers stand?
Laurie Capitelli talks to prospective voters at a house party in July. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel In the last six months, mayoral candidate Laurie Capitelli has raised $67,135 in donations, according to recently filed campaign finance statements. That’s almost 35% more than one of his strongest rivals and fellow city council member, Jesse Arreguín, who raised […]
Posted inOpinion
Op-ed: Berkeley’s fiscal condition is not good. Really
Berkeley’s fiscal condition is analogous to the global climate condition — not at all good, moving in the wrong direction, and portending eventual disaster. The City however, has somehow managed to develop a comprehensive and intricate Climate Action Plan (!) but not a Fiscal Action Plan. For the last ten years at least, there have […]
Posted inCity
Interim city manager talks pensions, parks and perks
Berkeley’s new interim city manager fielded questions from the North East Berkeley Association at a public meeting Oct. 22, 2015. Photo: Natalie Orenstein Berkeley’s new interim city manager fielded questions from the North East Berkeley Association at a public meeting Oct. 22, 2015. Photo: Natalie Orenstein New to Berkeley and even newer to her role […]
Posted inOpinion
Op-ed: City manager’s departure is big blow to Berkeley
The North East Berkeley Association (NEBA) recently convened a board meeting for the express purpose of discussing the sudden resignation of the City Manager Christine Daniel. We believe the loss to the city of Ms. Daniel reflects a very serious and growing problem within our city government. Although we did not always agree with Ms. […]
Posted inOpinion
Op-ed: The decay of Berkeley’s infrastructure
On May 12, the city of Berkeley’s budget manager, Teresa Berkeley-Simmons, will present to city council the proposed spending over the next five years for capital improvements. This includes money to be spent on sidewalks, streets, parks, storm drains, sewers, and transportation such as bike improvement projects. Between 2016 and 2020, Berkeley plans to decrease […]
Posted inCity, Nature
New drought rules would see Berkeley reduce its water use
A Downtown Berkeley Association employee powerwashes the sidewalk at the corner of Shattuck and Center. Photo: Isabelle Gaston This week the state Water Resources Control Board will consider emergency restrictions on water use that would require the city of Berkeley to impose fines for certain types of outdoor water use. If approved, the Water Board’s drought measures would require […]
