Flooding closed Ashby Avenue early Thursday evening. Authorities say it may be open by midnight. Photo: Jennifer Lazo Berkeley city workers handled more than 100 requests related to flooding, and more than 30 calls for tree-related issues, Thursday during a large storm that has been sweeping the Bay Area, authorities said. City spokesman Matthai Chakko said […]
Matthai Chakko
Posted inCity
Berkeley councilman says city mishandled legal fees in Measure S redistricting lawsuit; city disagrees
Above, the contested Berkeley Student District Campaign map, which was approved by council in December. Above, the contested Berkeley Student District Campaign map, which was approved by council in December. Less than a week before Berkeley voters will decide whether to adopt new council district boundaries, a local official has criticized the city for how it handled legal fees for a lawsuit over […]
Posted inCity
Report: Berkeley spends $12.2M annually on children
A rousing game of capture the flag occupies city of Berkeley campers until their parents pick them up. Photo: Natalie Orenstein Last Thursday afternoon, 40-some kids sprinted around Willard Park, capturing flags and thwacking tether balls. That’s the typical scene at the park most summer afternoons, where the campers at Berkeley Day Camp’s extended care […]
Posted inCity
Berkeley residents weigh in on new LED streetlights
Contractors replaced old streetlights Monday with new LED bulbs on the corner of Sonoma and Colusa avenues. Photo: Mary Flaherty The city of Berkeley’s project to convert thousands of old streetlights to LED bulbs is well underway, and the changes have not gone unnoticed by community members. Last fall, the Berkeley City Council voted to allow the city […]
Posted inCity, Community, Nature
Berkeley animal shelter budget raises questions
Berkeley’s new municipal animal shelter, which opened in early 2013. Photo: Emilie Raguso Berkeley’s new municipal animal shelter, which opened in early 2013. Photo: Emilie Raguso Community supporters of Berkeley’s municipal animal shelter have been raising alarm bells about the shelter’s budget for the coming fiscal year — and their concerns about the city’s lack of budgeting transparency […]
Posted inCity
Report suggests new Berkeley anti-discrimination policies
Attendees at a December 2013 NAACP Town Hall meeting discussed race issues in Berkeley. Photo: Lance Knobel Berkeley city staff are reviewing a report by Oakland-based firm Mason Tillman Associates that recommends changes in city policies in response to allegations of racism in employment practices. The report, which was sent to Berkeley City Council members by the city manager in […]
Posted inCrime, Crime & Safety
Berkeley Police crime alert experiment underway
A pilot program by the Berkeley Police Department to send out email and text alerts using a web-based service called Nixle has been live for about two weeks. Nearly 2,000 people have signed up for the service, and the Police Department has sent out eight notices since the launch of the program May 1. The […]
Posted inCity
Caltrans fence forces homeless to find new camp
People who used to sleep under the Gilman/I-80 underpass are trying to adjust to their new cramped sleeping situation. Photo: Natalie Orenstein Responding to complaints that the homeless people who camped under the Gilman/I-80 underpass were engaged in criminal activity, Caltrans has fenced off the area — pushing the encampment onto a narrow strip nearby. […]
Posted inCity
City of Berkeley heads to court over redistricting lines
The city filed a lawsuit to ask a judge to decide which lines to use during November’s election. (Click the thumbnail to learn more.) The city filed a lawsuit to ask a judge to decide which lines to use during November’s election. (Click the thumbnail to learn more.) The city of Berkeley has filed a […]
Posted inCity, Crime, Crime & Safety
Berkeley to launch Nixle crime alerts for phone, email
Berkeley Police honored Brandon Coleman (left) in January for helping locate a missing at-risk man after learning about him through a text alert sent by the Oakland Police Department. Beginning May 1, Berkeley will for the first time have the same tool. Photo: Mark Coplan The city of Berkeley is kicking off its first foray […]
Posted inCity
Berkeley officials: Social media ‘critical’ for transparency
Councilmen Gordon Wozniak and Jesse Arreguín are pushing for more transparency from Berkeley’s city manager. Photo: Emilie Raguso Councilmen Gordon Wozniak and Jesse Arreguín are pushing for more transparency from Berkeley’s city manager. Photo: Emilie Raguso Two members of the Berkeley City Council are pushing the city manager to come up with a concrete plan […]
Posted inCommunity
Berkeley kicks off Adeline Corridor improvements push
The city hopes to get a grant to look at improvements on Adeline Street from Ward Street to the Oakland border. Image: Google Maps Coming up later this year, the city of Berkeley has pledged to focus some of its resources on the Adeline Street corridor in South Berkeley to address chronic problems and try […]
