Ellen and Bob Lasher’s father Al opened his electronics store in 1960. Photo: Natalie Orenstein Ellen and Bob Lasher’s father Al opened his electronics store in 1960. Photo: Natalie Orenstein Al Lasher’s Electronics may be on the brink of closing after 56 years at 1734 University Ave. The city of Berkeley deemed the building, near […]
Matthai Chakko
Posted inCommunity
Berkeley city worker dies in garbage truck accident
Johnny Tolliver, who worked for Berkeley’s Zero Waste division, died Monday after he was hit by a city garbage truck while on his trash collection route. Photo: Tolliver family Johnny Tolliver, who worked for Berkeley’s Zero Waste division, died Monday after he was hit by a city garbage truck while on his trash collection route. […]
Posted inCrime & Safety, Fire
City worker sent to hospital after garbage truck accident
Preliminary reports indicate that a Berkeley garbage truck was involved in a traffic incident Monday. Image: Google Maps Update, Jan. 12, 11 a.m. The worker, identified as Johnny Tolliver, has died. Tolliver, who had worked for Berkeley for 25 years. The city lowered its flags to half-staff in his honor Tuesday. Read more on Berkeleyside. Original story, 2:43 p.m. […]
Posted inCommunity
Berkeley wins $1M parking grant to fix ‘2-hour shuffle’
Berkeley is looking to improve the “parking experience” in residential neighborhoods. Photo: Chris Makarsky Berkeley is looking to improve the “parking experience” in residential neighborhoods. Photo: Chris Makarsky A Berkeley plan to improve residential parking woes won a $1 million grant this week from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to help the city continue its goBerkeley pilot program for […]
Posted inCity
City of Berkeley unveils new open data portal
This municipal water map is one of 17 data sets and visualizations available in the city of Berkeley’s new open data portal. Image: City of Berkeley The city of Berkeley has officially launched a new website featuring 17 data sets related to everything from municipal water usage and employee salaries to crime heat maps, energy consumption, […]
Posted inCommunity
Friends of Adeline: ‘Our future shall be determined by us’
Community members discussed concerns related to the city’s Adeline Corridor revitalization plan during the third Friends of Adeline community forum, which took place at the Black Repertory Group’s theater Saturday. Photo: Emily Dugdale Community members discussed concerns related to the city’s Adeline Corridor revitalization plan during the third Friends of Adeline community forum, which took […]
Posted inCrime
DA launches criminal investigation into balcony collapse
Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley (center) with office spokeswoman Teresa Drenick (right) and Chief Assistant District Attorney Kevin Dunleavy. Photo: Emilie Raguso Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley (center) with office spokeswoman Teresa Drenick (right) and Chief Assistant District Attorney Kevin Dunleavy. Photo: Emilie Raguso The Alameda County district attorney’s office has launched a […]
Posted inCity, Community, Crime & Safety, Housing & Development
‘Severely dry rotted’ timber found after Berkeley balcony collapse; city plans to stiffen safety rules
Both of these balconies, which showed evidence of dry rot, were removed from Library Gardens last week. Photo: David Yee Update, June 24, 1 p.m. Teresa Drenick, spokeswoman for the Alameda County district attorney’s office, confirmed Wednesday that the office will be taking a look at the balcony collapse. “The District Attorney’s Office is reaching out to […]
Posted inCity
City of Berkeley (finally) goes live on Twitter
City spokesman Matthai Chakko will oversee the city’s Twitter account. Photo: Matthai Chakko City spokesman Matthai Chakko will oversee the city’s Twitter account. Photo: Matthai Chakko After four years of consideration, the city of Berkeley launched its Twitter account Monday afternoon to help improve the consistency and flow of information it provides to the public. […]
Posted inCity, Community, Crime & Safety
Mental health calls #1 drain on Berkeley police resources
Thirty-five percent of calls to the Berkeley Police Department are for people who are having a mental health crisis. Here, police officers restrained a man who was later taken for a mental health evaluation as two mental health workers (left), try to calm him down. Photo: Emilie Raguso Responding to people with mental health issues […]
Posted inCity
Soda distributors frustrated at city of Berkeley’s lack of guidance on soda tax
Dr. Pepper Snapple Group in Walnut Creek is one of multiple distributors frustrated by the lack of guidance from the city of Berkeley over the soda tax. Photo: Eric Lynch As the co-owner of the San Francisco-based Waterloo Beverages company, Camilo Malaver enjoyed doing business in Berkeley. But he did not want anything to do […]
Posted inBusiness
After Berkeley protests: Local merchants react to damage, looting at their businesses
McDonald’s in Berkeley was one of the many businesses damaged during recent protests in the city. Photo: Kim Aronson McDonald’s in Berkeley was one of the many businesses damaged during recent protests in the city. Photo: Kim Aronson Berkeley’s major commercial districts are awash with plywood — some of it covers broken glass, some has been erected […]
