Local merchants came out Tuesday night to ask council to reconsider proposed legislation to limit tobacco sales. Photo: Emilie Raguso After hearing emotional pleas from many local retailers, the Berkeley City Council voted Tuesday night to limit the scope of proposed legislation regarding nicotine product sales, at least for now. Council voted 8-1 in favor […]
Youth
Posted inCity
Council to consider broad limits on tobacco sales
The Berkeley City Council is taking steps to prevent youth exposure to nicotine, including menthol and flavored cigarettes. Photo: Lindsay Fox Update, May 13: Council approved a pared-down proposal Tuesday night focused on electronic and flavored cigarettes. See the Berkeleyside update. Original story, May 12: The Berkeley City Council is set to adopt, on first reading, a […]
Posted inCommunity
In Berkeley program, teens learn the law, leadership
Mock trials presided over by an Alameda County Superior Court judge turn teenagers into attorneys and defendants for the day. Photo: Nancy Schiff Jay-Z and Beyoncé are working out their relationship problems. The celebrities — impersonated uncannily by two 17-year-olds — are pretty angry at each other. But eventually they restore their romance, thanks to […]
Posted inCommunity, Video
In Berkeley park, free boxing program inspires young men
It started when Manuel Buendía began taking his young sons to San Pablo Park in Berkeley to teach them to box. Soon others wanted to join in, and now Buendía runs an informal, free boxing training program for any young person who shows interest. Buendía hopes the sessions are helping some of the participants stay out of trouble. As […]
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 inCrime
Update: Rowdy high schoolers disrupt Berkeley downtown
Hundreds of high school students on Center Street at 4:30 p.m. Friday afternoon, just before violence broke out. Photo: Siciliana Trevino Hundreds of high school students on Center Street at 4:30 p.m. Friday afternoon, just before violence broke out. Photo: Siciliana Trevino Update, 10:50 p.m. According to Lt. Dave Frankel, Berkeley Police Department had planned a large police presence […]
Posted inCommunity
Berkeley Youth Alternatives attracts statewide attention
The walls of the Berkeley Youth Alternatives building on Allston and Bonar are covered in murals by past students. Photo: Eden Teller When Kevin D. Williams first found himself at Berkeley Youth Alternatives, it was, he says, a “naked building.” His mother, Niculia Williams, now executive director of the nonprofit, which supports underserved youth, had […]
Posted inCity
Youth program to close after 18 years for lack of funds
BYA garden crew share a Thanksgiving meal. Left to right: Nahom Fasil, Kithorny Porter, Andranee Nabors, and Davion Barnes. Photo: Kim Allen. Update, 6:34pm: An earlier version of this story erroneously reported that the city had withdrawn funding this year for the garden program which is closing. The funding was in fact for the BYA’s […]
