Berkeley’s city charter makes the City Manager one of the most powerful
political posts in city government yet it largely immunizes the manager
from public insight, oversight, and removal from office. The charter’s
specifications of tenure, authority, and reporting obligations interact
in ways that help to keep the public in the dark and the council and
public weak regarding the day to day operations of the city. Perhaps
it is time to reconsider the structure of our municipal government? Continue reading »