In preparation for relocating to Berkeley five years ago, I arranged to pick up some moving boxes. It turns out, the couple giving me the boxes had just moved from Berkeley. When I asked why they left, they shared some nervous laughter and said something about getting out of there as quickly as they could. […]
Measure S
Posted inOpinion
Op-ed: Berkeley’s new homeless vote: A victory of style over substance
For a city that prides itself on substance on the issues of environment, free speech, locavore food politics, etc., Berkeley embarrassed itself Tuesday night on the substantive issue of caring for some of its neediest community members, opting for style over substance in the form of tidy sidewalks. Tuesday night the Berkeley City Council rejected the will […]
Posted inCity
Berkeley council votes to curb impacts of homelessness
Advocates for the homeless asked the city to consider new services, rather than new laws, for the homeless during a march and rally Tuesday night. Photo: Ted Friedman The Berkeley City Council voted Tuesday night to direct staff to flesh out and clarify laws designed to clean up downtown by addressing problematic behavior linked to the city’s homeless […]
Posted inCity
Berkeley to grapple again with homeless on sidewalks
On most days, homeless youth can be found on the sidewalk on Shattuck Avenue in front of the Landmark Shattuck Cinemas. The City Council will consider a new set of laws affecting the homeless on Tuesday night. Photo: Tracey Taylor A proposal coming before the Berkeley City Council on Tuesday to examine new laws for the […]
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
Michael Bloomberg has now spent $370K in support of Measure D; other Berkeley election news
A still from one of two Yes on D ads paid for by Michael R. Bloomberg that ran during the World Series. (Watch it below.) A still from one of two Yes on D ads paid for by Michael R. Bloomberg that ran during the World Series. (Watch it below.) Michael R. Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York […]
Posted inCity
Berkeley 2014 election hub: What you need to know
Berkeleyans will get out the vote in less than three weeks. Are you ready? Photo: Pete Rosos Absentee ballots have arrived and the November 2014 election is just around the corner. Berkeleyside has been covering the issues for months, and we’ve collected some of our best Berkeley election coverage in a single post to help readers get […]
Posted inOpinion
Op-ed: Why it’s important to vote on Measure S
This November, we will vote on Measure S, which considers whether to approve our new redistricting map. It’s very important to vote on Measure S to preserve your right to “one person, one vote.” It’s also a vote to make government work for you. What is Measure S? “Redistricting” is the process of redrawing our […]
Posted inCity
Rent Board commissioner Alejandro Soto-Vigil challenges 22-year incumbent Linda Maio in Berkeley’s District 1
Alejandro Soto-Vigil hopes to beat incumbent Linda Maio for the Berkeley City Council’s District 1 seat. Photo courtesy of Soto-Vigil Alejandro Soto-Vigil hopes to beat incumbent Linda Maio for the Berkeley City Council’s District 1 seat. Photo courtesy of Soto-Vigil Alejandro Soto-Vigil, city Rent Board commissioner and aide to Councilman Kriss Worthington, has filed to […]
Posted inCity
Judge rules for council-majority-approved map in bitter Berkeley redistricting battle
The BSDC map approved by Judge Grillo will be used in November, unless an appeal overturns the decision. Judge Evelio Grillo ruled today in favor of using the council-majority-approved district lines in the November 2014 election. Grillo heard closing arguments in City of Berkeley v. Tim Dupuis and Mark Numainville Tuesday. In a 35-page opinion, Grillo determined […]
Posted inCity
Judge plans to rule today on Berkeley redistricting lines
More than 20 people attended a hearing Tuesday about contested redistricting lines in Berkeley. Photo: Emilie Raguso Update, 4:30 p.m. The judge has ruled in favor of using the council-majority-approved district lines. See his ruling here. (A more in-depth Berkeleyside story on the decision is online here.) Original post: An Alameda County Superior Court judge is […]
Posted inOpinion
Op-ed: How to see through the fog of redistricting
Detail of the BSDC map, one of several under consideration for Berkeley. Berkeley’s current redistricting process is a foggy mess. For readers, I’ll try to clear some of the fog by, first, presenting a timeline of pertinent events and then offering my take on these events. REDISTRICTING HISTORY 1986—District elections established by voter initiative and […]
