For the first time in 12 years, South Berkeley will have a new representative on the City Council. Four people are vying for the seat to be vacated by Max Anderson: Anderson’s pick, Ben Bartlett, is an attorney who is proud of his family’s deep heritage in Berkeley and has wracked up a long list of high-profile endorsements; real estate agent […]
Mark Coplan
Posted inHousing & Development
New housing OK’d in Berkeley as ‘YIMBYs’ win the night
A 6-story building set to include 50 rental units and four live-work units was approved Thursday night by Berkeley’s Zoning Adjustments Board, though neighborhood opposition will likely mean an appeal to City Council. Nearly 300 people have signed a petition asking for changes to the project, at 2902 Adeline St. in South Berkeley, and many showed up […]
Posted inCity
Election 2016 Berkeley: Spotlight on District 2, District 3
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 with the candidates daily at 11 a.m. In coming weeks, we’ll have stories on all the key Berkeley races and initiatives that will be on the ballot, and hope […]
Posted inCity
Election 2016: Who is Mark Coplan?
Name: Mark Coplan Age: 60 Job: BUSD public information officer, retired What office are you are running for? Berkeley City Council, District 3 What is the main reason you are running? I’m running for Berkeley City Council District 3, because I want to serve South Berkeley the way I’ve served 9,000 students and their families in Berkeley schools […]
Posted inCity
Berkeley candidates outline their positions on the arts
Five Berkeley mayoral candidates and a slew of contenders for City Council gathered Wednesday evening at the Freight & Salvage to discuss their commitment to funding the arts. The Berkeley Cultural Trust, a consortium of individuals from various arts organizations in Berkeley, put on the candidates’ debate. Its setting could not have been more appropriate: […]
Posted inHousing & Development
Housing views show split in South, West Berkeley races
Berkeley City Council candidates for South and West Berkeley took the stage Monday night to share their views on housing, diversity, homelessness, the economy and public safety, among other topics. The forum, hosted by the League of Women Voters Berkeley Albany Emeryville, was the first to bring together the candidates for District 2 (West Berkeley) and […]
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 inSchools
Update: School officials say threat to Berkeley High shared on Facebook is false
Update, 3 p.m. Berkeley Police said they are not investigating this as a crime. Update, 12:30 p.m. Berkeley High says that, after speaking with the Berkeley Police Department, it does not believe a Facebook post that mentioned a “massive text” and a “massive shooting” is related to an actual threat of violence against the school. In an email sent out to […]
Posted inSchools
Berkeley High to ‘take back the day’ after racist incident
Berkeley High School is preparing for a special day of “communal self-affirmation” on campus Wednesday, following a racist incident on Nov. 4 and the school-wide protest that came in its wake. BHS Principal Sam Pasarow said he is supporting Wednesday’s activities which will see a slightly modified class schedule and include two assemblies. In a Dec. 2 email […]
Posted inSchools
BHS student to be disciplined after racist statement
The student who posted an inflammatory and racist statement on a Berkeley High School library computer last week was a student of color, according to a school district spokesman. But the student, a male freshman, was not black, according to a city staffer familiar with the case. BHS Principal Sam Pasarow told the high school staff that the […]
Posted inCrime & Safety, Schools
Berkeley High student linked to racist ‘screen hack’
By Emilie Raguso and Lance Knobel Berkeley High School administrators say they have identified the student responsible for a “screen hack” in the library Wednesday that displayed racist threats against African Americans. Berkeley High Principal Sam Pasarow said, during a press conference Thursday afternoon, that a student, believed to have been acting alone, was responsible for […]
Posted inSchools
Berkeley High students walk out, rally after racist threats
By Tracey Taylor, Lance Knobel and Emilie Raguso Update, Nov. 10: Listen to Berkeley High Principal Sam Pasarow, Berkeley High Black Student Union co-president Alecia Harger, and Berkeleyside co-founder Lance Knobel discuss the walkout and what provoked it on KQED Forum. The 25-minute segment was broadcast on Friday Nov. 6 at 9:30 a.m. Follow live […]