30 things you might not know about Berkeley’s election
How much have real estate groups poured into the election? How about firefighter unions? Which candidates is the actor Danny Glover backing?
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
Page 2
Berkeley antiwar organizers separate fact from fiction in ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’
The Nexflix movie has provoked reactions both positive and negative in Berkeley where many people involved in the anti-war movement, and the trial at the heart of the film, live.
Independent expenditure campaigns spend big to influence rent board, District 2 city council race
By law, independent expenditure campaigns must act independently of the candidates they are backing. They can’t communicate or even coordinate with those running for office.
Some Berkeley voters still don’t have their ballots; Berkeleyside is trying to find out why
The Alameda County registrar of voters mailed ballots to 78,000 Berkeley residents in early October, but some have not been delivered yet.
Election complaints filed against ArreguĂn and Hsiung mayoral campaigns
Critical information about who is paying for campaign materials is missing, the complaints state.
Workers haul 35 tons of debris out of Seabreeze encampment but campers remain
Berkeley only cleaned up one half of the encampment because of what it says is lack of cooperation from Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol.
Real estate interests spend heavily to support property-friendly rent board candidates
There is a full slate of five property owner-oriented candidates running for the Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board — and real estate interests are backing them big time.
The last four years in Berkeley have been challenging, but Jesse ArreguĂn says he is ready for more
He has had to deal with the “Battle for Berkeley,” homelessness, Trump’s saber-rattling against sanctuary cities and the pandemic.
Wayne Hsiung, who has put his freedom on the line to rescue animals, wants to be Berkeley’s next mayor
In 2017, DxE, the organization Hsiung co-founded, decided to focus on building a movement in Berkeley — and then elect people to office.
Barriers go up along Grizzly Peak to cut down fire risk in Berkeley, Oakland
Crowds often gather in the popular turnouts and some people are setting off firecrackers.
With 4 City Council seats up for grabs in Berkeley, here’s who’s donating
Those participating in the city’s public financing program can only get $50 from any donor, but Berkeley matches that six-to-one, or $300 per donor.
Donors pour $125K into mayor’s race, with Jesse ArreguĂn raising about 3x more than opponents
With public matching funds, Wayne Hsiung has almost as much to spend as the mayor.
Firefighters pour money into Berkeley ballot measure that would raise $8.5 million a year
Supporters have contributed $44,000 to Measure FF. It would raise property taxes to improve 911 service and help prepare Berkeley for disasters, they say. Opponents contend there are no controls on the fund.
West Berkeley Shellmound is now considered one of the U.S.’s 11 most endangered historic places
Native Americans and their supporters hope the designation will help them stop a planned 260-unit development at 1900 Fourth St., a lot that is part of the West Berkeley Shellmound.
UC Berkeley may ban walking, biking and running through campus
The ban on outside visitors is in response to a state recommendation that universities limit visitors as much as possible. It is unclear how much Cal intends to enforce the new guidelines, however.
Berkeleyside has resumed publishing opinion pieces before the election
The deadline for all election-related op-eds was Oct. 7. Berkeleyside will publish up to two for each side.
