Berkeleyside learned Tuesday of the unexpected death Sunday of Calvin Fong, chief of staff to former Mayor Tom Bates. Bates shared remarks about the death of his longtime friend.
Tom Bates
Posted inCity
Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates retires after 14 years: “I always felt I could do the right thing”
Tom Bates: “I’ve been so blessed to have had this opportunity to represent Berkeley.” Photo: Kelly Sullivan Tom Bates: “I’ve been so blessed to have had this opportunity to represent Berkeley.” Photo: Kelly Sullivan Think back to Berkeley in 2002. Home prices were less than half of today’s values. There were just over 100,000 people […]
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Council passes minimum wage law for $15 in 2018
The late-notice, Friday morning special council meeting drew lower-than-usual attendance. Photo: Lance Knobel Berkeley City Council unanimously approved a new law Friday that will see the city’s minimum wage increase to $15 in 2018. The vote came during an unusual Friday morning special session of the council, after weeks of negotiation to resolve a battle between […]
Posted inCity, Community
Nurses, officials voice concerns about Alta Bates changes
Nurses are leading the charge to “Save Alta Bates.” They rallied at Old City Hall on Tuesday night. Photo: Andy Katz Nurses are leading the charge to “Save Alta Bates.” They rallied at Old City Hall on Tuesday night. Photo: Andy Katz “We have a real problem and it’s a regional problem,” said Mayor Tom […]
Posted inCity, Community
DOJ threatens lawsuit over Berkeley post office
Post Office Inspectors cleared protesters from the steps in April after nearly 17 months. Photo: Lance Knobel In a strongly worded letter, the U.S. Department of Justice has warned the city of Berkeley that a lawsuit could be coming over the city’s “interference” with USPS plans to sell its downtown post office on Allston Way. The […]
Posted inCity
Berkeley council votes to increase inclusionary housing
Many community members attended Tuesday night’s council meeting, which was slated to focus on housing. Photo: Ben Gould Many community members attended Tuesday night’s council meeting, which was slated to focus on housing. Photo: Ben Gould Despite an ambitious agenda, the Berkeley City Council managed Tuesday night to vote on just one policy shift related to affordable housing […]
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Chaos ensues after changes at Berkeley City Council
Many supporters of Youth Spirit Artworks came out to Tuesday night’s Berkeley City Council meeting. Photo: Emilie Raguso Many supporters of Youth Spirit Artworks came out to Tuesday night’s Berkeley City Council meeting. Photo: Emilie Raguso The Berkeley City Council had more than a dozen items regarding housing on Tuesday’s agenda. In what he described […]
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City Council to focus on creation of more housing
A person must now earn $143,360 to afford a median-rent apartment in Berkeley. Photo: Melati Citrawireja In the past five years, the population of Berkeley has grown 5.5%, but its housing supply has only increased 1.2%. That discrepancy, coupled with an economic boom that has pushed highly paid tech workers out of San Francisco and into […]
Posted inCommunity, Crime & Safety
Berkeley launches first ‘Resilience Strategy’ in Bay Area
Helping community members connect, through efforts such as Berkeley CERT, is one way to build resilience, according to Berkeley’s new Resilience Strategy. CERT volunteers are seen here in a “search and rescue” exercise. Photo: Emilie Raguso, is one way to build resilience, according to Berkeley’s new Resilience Strategy. CERT volunteers are seen here in a “search and rescue” exercise. Photo: Emilie Raguso […]
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Albany to become Berkeley’s 9th council district
Berkeley’s new council district map once Albany is incorporated Berkeley’s new council district map once Albany is incorporated By Paul Kamen Update, April 2: This was indeed an April Fools’ Day story. We hope you enjoyed! Original post, April 1: In an early morning press conference hosted jointly by the Berkeley and Albany city councils, it was […]
Posted inBusiness
Council overturns landmark designation where Berkeley Honda hopes to open
Berkeley Honda is hoping to take over 2777 Shattuck Ave., the former Any Mountain location. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel Berkeley Honda can now push forward with its plans to open in the former Any Mountain location on Shattuck Avenue after a City Council vote last week. Neighbors had put together a petition late last year to […]
Posted inHousing & Development, Opinion
Op-ed: An omnibus housing plan to address a critical shortage
We all agree on the urgent need to address our critical shortage of housing, especially affordable housing. But how? In Berkeley, as in other Bay Area population centers, the housing supply has not kept pace with population. Berkeley’s population grew 5.5% from 2010-2015, while the housing supply increased by only 1.2%. The worsening shortage has […]