A large crowd of Halloween revelers gathered in Berkeley in what officials described as a riot. Photo: David Yee Citing a riot on Halloween and three alcohol-related deaths near the UC Berkeley campus in recent years, Berkeley officials approved new rules Tuesday night to address rowdy parties and other problems associated with group housing widely […]
Lori Droste
Posted inCity
Berkeley votes to phase in minimum wage increases
Protester Andrea Combs, who joined minimum wage actions in Sacramento and Oakland earlier that day, sports a Guy Fawkes mask at the Nov. 10 special meeting of the Berkeley City Council. Photo: Lisa Tsering By Lisa Tsering The Berkeley City Council approved revisions to its contentious minimum wage ordinance late in the evening of Nov. 10 […]
Posted inCity
Green housing package sails through Berkeley council
Lori Droste. Courtesy: Facebook An innovative pair of policies to encourage affordable housing and green policies passed the first hurdle by acclaim at the Berkeley City Council meeting on Tuesday night. Councilwoman Lori Droste’s Green Affordable Housing Package designates units and funding for affordable housing by prioritizing housing over parking spaces in new, multi-unit developments, […]
Posted inBusiness
Berkeley council puts off minimum wage vote to Nov. 10
Labor advocates and workers rallied outside Tuesday night’s Berkeley City Council meeting in favor of increasing the minimum wage. Photo: Mary Flaherty Labor advocates and workers rallied outside Tuesday night’s Berkeley City Council meeting in favor of increasing the minimum wage. Photo: Mary Flaherty The Berkeley City Council voted late Tuesday night to hold off […]
Posted inNosh
Nabolom Bakery to close after 40 years in Berkeley
The collective bakery, a favorite spot for muffins and Blueberry Cheese Danishes, as well as live music on the weekends, will shutter for good on Sunday.
Posted inCity, Housing & Development
Berkeley leaders approve community benefits package; ZAB votes to certify Harold Way EIR
2211 Harold Way is one of several tall building proposals in the pipeline that must offer “significant community benefits” under the Downtown Area Plan. Image: MVEI Architecture and Planning 2211 Harold Way is one of several tall building proposals in the pipeline that must offer “significant community benefits” under the Downtown Area Plan. Image: MVEI […]
Posted inCity
Berkeley council approves short-term rental proposal
The owners of this rent-controlled apartment complex at 3100 College Ave., as of May, are renting out three of its apartments on Airbnb. Berkeley law does not allow rentals shorter than 14 days. Photo: Melati Citrawireja The Berkeley City Council took a step forward Tuesday night in its effort to regulate short-term rentals in the city, […]
Posted inCity, Housing & Development
Officials to relax rules for Berkeley ‘granny flats’
An accessory dwelling unit on Virginia Street. Photo: Frameworks Berkeley officials voted unanimously Tuesday night to streamline the process for homeowners who want to add secondary units — sometimes called in-law units or granny flats — to their properties. Supporters of the draft plan say it is a sustainable approach to increasing density and will allow more […]
Posted inCity
Council: No drones for Berkeley police for 1 year
A drone spotted in Berkeley last October. Photo: William Newton The Berkeley City Council voted last week to enact a one-year moratorium on the use or acquisition of drones by the Berkeley Police Department. The Feb. 24 vote came despite the fact that the department had no plans to get or use a drone. “We don’t own […]
Posted inHousing & Development, Opinion
Op-ed: An open letter to Lori Droste about mini-dorms
Dear Lori Droste, The residents of District 8 have elected you to be their representative because you presented yourself as a family-oriented candidate who would work on behalf of the people of District 8, a largely residential district with continuing concerns about neighborhood preservation. There is now no greater threat to the livability of Berkeley […]
Posted inArts
New Steve Jobs movie starring Michael Fassbender, Seth Rogen, Kate Winslet, shooting in Berkeley
Seth Rogan is to play the part of Steve Wozniak in a new film about Steve Jobs and Apple that will be on location in Berkeley on Friday and Saturday. Photo: Boris Rezsov A new movie about Steve Jobs, starring Michael Fassbender (as Jobs), Seth Rogen (as Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak), Kate Winslet and Katherine […]
Posted inCity
Lori Droste takes District 8 council seat by 16 votes
Lori Droste is the new District 8 councilwoman. Courtesy: Lori Droste/Facebook Final tallies released Wednesday night make Lori Droste the narrow winner in what became a tense and protracted race for Berkeley City Council District 8. Alameda County will certify the results by Monday, but all votes have been counted, leaving Droste with 2,072 votes, […]
