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 […]
Redistricting
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 […]
Posted inOpinion
Op-ed: It’s time to compromise on Berkeley redistricting
Detail of the BSDC map, one of several under consideration for Berkeley. The Berkeley City Council is engaged in a lawsuit with itself over redistricting. With leadership and compromise, we can put this matter behind us Tuesday night (tonight). How we got here: Redistricting is required every 10 years. Since populations shift and federal law requires that […]
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
Official pushes for independent redistricting panel
Councilman Jesse Arreguín believes an independent redistricting panel will better serve the Berkeley voters. Photo: Emilie Raguso Berkeley Councilman Jesse Arreguín has launched a ballot initiative to change the city’s approach to redistricting, arguing that “partisan self interest” and a “broken” process have crippled recent efforts, as well as those during the last redistricting attempt more […]
Posted inCity
Berkeley redistricting maps to be on November ballot, judge to choose which lines to use
Council approved the “Berkeley Student District Campaign” map in December. Council approved the “Berkeley Student District Campaign” map in December. The Berkeley City Council voted 6-3 Tuesday night to let the voters decide which map of council districts will best represent the community’s interests moving forward. In recent years, the city has struggled to come […]
Posted inCity
Council majority pushes redistricting decisions to March
Many of the speakers who came to Tuesday night’s council meeting oppose a redistricting ordinance adopted in December. Photo: Emilie Raguso Many of the speakers who came to Tuesday night’s council meeting oppose a redistricting ordinance adopted in December. Photo: Emilie Raguso In a 6-3 vote, a Berkeley City Council majority ruled Tuesday night to […]
Posted inCity
Berkeley redistricting referendum effort prevails
Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel An effort underway over the past month to force the Berkeley City Council to revoke a recently adopted redistricting map, or put the council district issue before the voters later this year, has officially collected enough signatures for the referendum to proceed, city staff said Monday evening. The Berkeley Referendum Coalition turned in 7,867 […]
Posted inCity
Long-time Berkeley progressives back referendum drive
City council members Kriss Worthington, Jesse Arreguin and members the Berkeley Referendum Campaign turn in signatures to the city clerk’s office on Jan 21. Photo: Anthony Sanchez The group that collected 7,896 signatures to force a City Council redistricting plan onto the ballot spent more than $5,000 on paid signature gatherers in January, but only […]
Posted inCity, Schools
Redistricting opponents secure signatures to force vote
City council members Kriss Worthington, Jesse Arreguin and members the Berkeley Referendum Campaign turn in signatures to the city clerk’s office on Tuesday. Photo: Anthony Sanchez City council members Kriss Worthington, Jesse Arreguin and members the Berkeley Referendum Campaign turn in signatures to the city clerk’s office on Tuesday. Photo: Anthony Sanchez Opponents of a […]