The Berkeley rose garden pergola needs major repairs and has been closed to park visitors since April. Photo: Daniel Parks The public dismay was palpable last month when the Berkeley City Council decided, in a surprise move, to put a parks tax before voters this fall without a related bond measure that would have infused parks […]
Parks bond
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 inOpinion
Op-ed: Big vision and strict accountability required to save Berkeley parks
Flying a kite in Berkeley’s Cesar Chavez Park. Photo: Nancy Rubin Flying a kite in Berkeley’s Cesar Chavez Park. Photo: Nancy Rubin On Tuesday, June 24, the Berkeley City Council may choose to place a combined Mello-Roos financing measure for Berkeley parks on the November ballot. It is vital for the Berkeley community — elected […]
Posted inCity, Nature
Berkeley voters likely to see joint parks funding measure
Willard Pool supporters (pictured here last fall) won a victory Tuesday night with the latest council parks proposal. Photo: Emilie Raguso Willard Pool supporters (pictured here last fall) won a victory Tuesday night with the latest council parks proposal. Photo: Emilie Raguso Two Berkeley officials put forward a new proposal Tuesday night for a combined bond and tax measure […]
Posted inCity, Nature
Plans firm up for Berkeley soda tax, city parks measures
Berkeley voters will consider a soda tax in November. Supporters shown here came out before council earlier this year. Photo: Lance Knobel Berkeley officials voted Tuesday night on ballot language related to a November 2014 soda tax proposal, but exactly what sort of fundraising request might come before voters to help the city’s parks remains to […]
Posted inNature
Community survey shows difficulties for ballot measures
Proponents of a soda tax were out in force in neon green at Berkeley City Council in March. Photo: Lance Knobel A second round survey of likely voters in Berkeley reveals the difficulty some likely ballot measures will face for passage in November. The City Council commissioned the survey to test the waters for potential […]
Posted inOpinion
Op-ed: Let’s join forces to back Healthy Berkeley program
A broad coalition of diverse community representatives came together before the Berkeley City Council recently to call for Council support for two very important “Healthy Berkeley” initiatives. One involves a city parks bond proposal, and the other a proposed tax on sugary drinks. Both could provide long-term funding for healthy city improvements, including parks, playgrounds, […]
Posted inCity, Community, Nature
Willard pool reopening on agenda for park bond measure
Colorful graphics welcomed swimmers to Willard Pool when it was open. Photo: Protographer 23 After two failures to secure a pools bond measure, advocates for the reopening of Willard Pool turned out in force at Tuesday night’s Berkeley City Council meeting. Pool supporters called for including Willard in a likely parks bond measure on the […]
Posted inCity, Community, Nature
Council to study $20M parks bond, 10% parks tax boost
More than 30 Berkeley residents came out Wednesday night to ask the city to re-open Willard Pool. Photo: Emilie Raguso The Berkeley City Council is set to consider a potential $20 million parks bond in conjunction with a 10% increase to the existing parks tax after a unanimous vote Wednesday night by the city’s parks […]
Posted inCity, Nature
Berkeley groups want old railroad bed to be a public park
The Santa Fe Right of Way is closed to the public. Photo: Mary Flaherty A group of local residents is asking the city to raise funds to turn an old, fenced-off railroad bed in South Berkeley, called the Santa Fe Right of Way, into open space with community gardens and a trail that connects to […]
Posted inCommunity, Nature
Willard Pool supporters turn out for parks meeting
Willard Pool, circa 2009. Photo: protographer23 Dozens of supporters of Willard Pool turned out Wednesday night to ask the Parks and Waterfront Commission to take steps to raise money to reopen the facility, which was closed due to budget and maintenance issues in 2010. The meeting was the third in a series of public meetings […]
Posted inCity, Community, Fire, Nature
Berkeley Tuolumne Camp supporters push to rebuild
Photo taken Sept. 2 at the site of the Berkeley Tuolumne Family Camp. Courtesy: City of Berkeley Supporters of Berkeley’s Tuolumne Camp, which was destroyed by the Rim Fire in August, came out last week to urge fast action and promise volunteer muscle in the city’s efforts to rebuild the much-loved institution. Supporters of the […]