12 homeless people died in Berkeley in 2019. 137 died in Alameda County
It’s not easy to determine if homelessness is a contributing factor to someone’s death, but living on the streets leads to a shorter lifespan for Americans.
Frances Dinkelspiel (co-founder) is a journalist and author. Her first book, Towers of Gold: How One Jewish Immigrant Named Isaias Hellman Created California, published in November 2008, was a San Francisco Chronicle bestseller. Her second book, Tangled Vines: Greed, Murder, Obsession and an Arsonist in the Vineyards of California was published in October 2015 and was both a New York Times and San Francisco Chronicle bestseller. Frances is a former staff reporter for the Syracuse Newspapers and the San Jose Mercury News. Her freelance work has appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, People Magazine, Daily Beast, the San Francisco Chronicle, and elsewhere.
Berkeley police arrest felon suspected of firing multiple shots on Durant and Telegraph Avenues
Police said the suspect has many felony convictions.
New laws on using plastic foodware, disposable cups, natural gas and lobbying go into effect in 2020
Three new laws will shape how Berkeley residents eat, build and influence lawmaking.
Need a sous vide machine? Or electric mixer? Berkeley Public Library to begin lending kitchen tools
Library officials want people to fill out a survey so they can figure out which kitchen items to offer.
2 Berkeleyside editors choose their best books of 2019
Escape the cumulative exhaustion of national and global politics and indulge in some good reads. What books did you enjoy this year?
Public campaign financing in 2018 reduced influence of large donors, enticed more people to run, report shows
Incumbency and fundraising ability still mattered as the two sitting council members won reelection. However public financing allowed candidates to spend more time talking to constituents.
Homeless man dies by UC Berkeley
The man has not yet been identified, but no foul play is suspected.
Berkeleyside to launch news site in Oakland, will convert to nonprofit
The new Oakland journalism platform will be headed by Tasneem Raja, a trailblazer in nonprofit and community-led journalism. The effort has secured initial funding of $3.1 million.
For a first-generation Yemeni American, giving back is essential
When Thafir Elzofri was a young student, he was mentored and supported by Berkeley programs. He is repaying the kindness by working for Teach for America.
Berkeley to hold open house on making streets safer for pedestrians
Two people have been killed in 2019 while crossing the street; about 89 have been injured.
House fire on Oxford Street kills the three dogs of owner of La Note restaurant
The fire also heavily damaged Dorothée Mitrani's home.
Title of play at The Marsh Berkeley prompts accusations of racial insensitivity
David Hirata has changed the name and says he deeply regrets the pain he has caused.
Pot left on stove causes Virginia Street house fire
The homeowner told fire officials he put a cleaned pot on a stove to dry and then forgot about it. But friends say he misspoke.
Buyers of Pacific Steel Casting ‘looted’ its assets, made ‘insider deals,’ according to bankruptcy trustee
The Speyside Fund and Speyside Equity, among others, should return the $14.5 million it took in distributions so the money can go to pay worker pension funds and other debts, a legal filing contends.
Mari Mendonca, community activist, appointed to fill Rent Board vacancy
Mendonca sits on the Housing Advisory Commission, has been homeless herself and currently resides in Section 8 housing.
