Downtown Berkeley: at the heart of a ballot initiative and a lawsuit. Photo: Tracey Taylor Berkeley City Councilman Jesse Arreguín filed a lawsuit against Berkeley on Wednesday seeking to overturn ballot language that will be used to describe a downtown zoning initiative. Arreguín wants an Alameda County Superior Court judge to take up the matter immediately, […]
Zach Cowan
Posted inCity
Wording of Berkeley ballot initiative headed to court
Downtown Berkeley, May 2014. Photo: Emilie Raguso The backers of a downtown Berkeley initiative that voters will consider in November plan to file a lawsuit next week to force the city to change the wording in the ballot measure. They contend that the summary is inaccurate, biased and misleading. The decision to go to court […]
Posted inCity
City Council member says Berkeley’s ballot is biased
A battle is brewing over the wording that will be used to describe the downtown initiative on the November ballot. Photo: Emilie Raguso Berkeley Councilman Jesse Arreguín has asked the city attorney’s office to amend the wording that will be used to describe the downtown initiative in an election pamphlet because it is “inaccurate,” “misleading” and […]
Posted inBerkeleyside, City, Events, Housing & Development
At B-Side: Implications of downtown Berkeley initiative
At the first B-Side forum co-sponsored by The Hub and Berkeleyside, participants debated the merits of this fall’s downtown initiative. From left, Lance Knobel of Berkeleyside, Berkeley Councilman Jesse Arreguín and Eric Panzer of Livable Berkeley. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel At the first B-Side forum co-sponsored by The Hub and Berkeleyside, participants debated the merits of […]
Posted inCity
Berkeley dismisses official who made ‘insensitive’ racial comment during cannabis collective appeal
Berkeley officials contend that Forty Acres operated an illegal cannabis operation on the top floor of this building at 1820-1828 San Pablo Ave. Photo: Google Street View Berkeley officials contend that Forty Acres operated an illegal cannabis operation on the top floor of this building at 1820-1828 San Pablo Ave. Photo: Google Street View The city of […]
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Berkeley still battling Forty Acres cannabis collective
Berkeley officials contend that Forty Acres operated an illegal cannabis operation on the top floor of this building at 1820-1828 San Pablo Ave. Photo: Google Street View The lawyers for Chris Smith, the owner of Forty Acres Medical Marijuana Grower’s Collective, will ask an Alameda County judge Friday to force the city of Berkeley to […]
Posted inHousing & Development
‘Moorish palace’ plans for Telegraph show little progress
The frustration was palpable Thursday night as zoning board commissioners noted the lack of headway by the property owner of a highly anticipated mixed-use project proposed on Berkeley’s Telegraph Avenue. The empty lot at 2501 Haste St., at Telegraph, has been vacant for more than 20 years, though owner Ken Sarachan has said he would like to build a […]
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, Crime & Safety
Berkeley slapped with lawsuit over Kayla Moore’s death
Kayla Moore’s sister, Maria, and father, Arthur, spoke before the City Council last year. Photo: Emilie Raguso Kayla Moore’s sister, Maria, and father, Arthur, spoke before the City Council last year. Photo: Emilie Raguso Berkeley police used excessive force when attempting to arrest Kayla Moore and declined to give her mouth-to-mouth resuscitation when she stopped […]
Posted inCity
Lawsuit yields money for historic preservation in Berkeley
Concerned Library Users did not want Berkeley to tear down the old South Branch because they and others considered it historically significant. It was demolished and rebuilt. The settlement funds from a suit filed by the group will go towards other historic buildings. Berkeley residents may soon see the fruits of a legal settlement between […]
Posted inCity
Berkeley bans tobacco smoking in apartments, condos
Berkeley residents who live in buildings with more than one unit will not be allowed to smoke inside beginning in May 2014. Photo: Damian Kennedy Smoking cigarettes will no longer be allowed inside the units of multi-family housing developments in Berkeley, effective May 2014, after a unanimous vote by the Berkeley City Council on Tuesday […]
Posted inFire
Berkeley units to stay rent-controlled after 2012 fire
The March 2012 fire at 2227 Dwight Way caused extensive damage to the building and displaced many residents. Photo: Tracey Taylor A three-story, six-unit apartment building destroyed by fire early last year will remain rent-controlled, and former residents should have the right to return to the property, city staff said Tuesday night. The Berkeley City […]
