‘It’s so disheartening’: Owners of cannabis dispensaries, stores start repairing damage done by looters and vandals
Caravans of cars carrying 30 to 40 people vandalized Farmacy Berkeley and other stores this weekend.
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Frances Dinkelspiel
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.
Articles by Frances
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Berkeley Public Library plans to offer curbside pickup of books in mid-to-late June
Patrons will be able to return checked-out books starting today.
Head of Berkeley rent board, who’s on paid leave, announces he’s retiring
Jay Kelekian is retiring in the middle of an investigation that appears to be examining alleged harassment of an employee.
Berkeley rent board wants voters to add rent control measures to certain duplexes and ADUs
The proposed changes to the rent control ordinance would take away an exemption first allowed 40 years ago.
Berkeleyside hires 2 new journalists; Natalie Orenstein to join new Oakland newsroom
Berkeleyside reporter Orenstein joining the Oakland newsroom brings the total number of staff there to seven.
Berkeley may open streets, sidewalks and parks to allow outdoor dining
Restaurants have been hard hit by COVID-19. Letting them set up tables outdoors would boost business while maintaining social distancing.
Curbside pickup at retail stores is still taboo in Berkeley, but some now offer home delivery
Retailers are allowed to deliver as long as they only deliver goods that were in their inventory at the start of the shutdown.
Florists are confused: Gov. Newsom said they could reopen, but Berkeley hasn’t allowed it
Some florists are reopening for curbside delivery Friday, just in time for Mother’s Day. Many think they have permission to do so.
UC Berkeley is negotiating to buy and potentially tear down 111-year-old rent-controlled building
The four-story apartment complex on Walnut Street sits on land that might become part of a new 850-bed student housing project known as the Gateway.
Head of Berkeley rent board put on administrative leave
James “Jay” Kelekian, one of the city’s more highly paid employees, has been Executive Director of the Rent Stabilization Board for 18 years.
City gives $1.7M in emergency grants to small businesses, arts groups
Small businesses got an average grant of $2,744, arts organizations $16,818. Restaurants and food service businesses made up the largest category of grantees.
Corner stores step up: Star Grocery
Our series on corner stores in the age of COVID-19 turns to Star Grocery, a Claremont neighborhood market that has been feeding Berkeley for 98 years.
Berkeleyside announces 3 new journalists for its Oakland newsroom
Jacob Simas, Ashley McBride and Ricky Rodas are hitting the ground running reporting on COVID-19 Oakland news ahead of the launch of our standalone Oakland newsroom.
A short and sweet 7 months: Tartine Bakery Berkeley shuts for good
Workers from Tartine said the Graduate Hotel had decided not to renew the bakery’s lease because of slow sales. Eighteen workers have now permanently lost their jobs.
UC Berkeley hopes to build 16-story housing complex at People’s Park
The building would be part of a complex that could house as many as 1,200 students and 125 community members who need supportive housing. Cal is seeking public comment through April 27.
Berkeley homeless shelter closed after resident tests positive for COVID-19
The person who had been living at the Pathways/STAIR Center has been moved to a hotel in Oakland to recover from the virus. Most of the other residents have moved to a nearby hotel.
