Berkeley tries grassroots methods to avoid ‘vaccine hunters,’ reach vulnerable groups
Churches and community organizations are helping with an equity-minded COVID-19 vaccine outreach.
City
Top Stories
UC Berkeley plans to become bigger, greener and more pedestrian friendly
The university’s new long-range plan includes building 12,000 housing units for a projected larger population.
Berkeley denounces racist history of single-family zoning, begins 2-year process to change general plan
Council unanimously approved a resolution that will work toward banning single-family zoning.
Election results
In brief
Berkeley votes to give its mayor and City Council members significant pay raises
The salaries of the mayor and City Council members will increase by 75%, thanks to the apparent passage of Measure JJ.
In brief
The push to raise Berkeley’s utility tax to fund a climate fund appears to be losing
Supporters said Measure HH losing is a missed opportunity to put resources toward climate justice.
The pro-tenant, ‘Right To Housing’ slate sweeps Berkeley rent board election
The slate definitely took four seats and is poised to win the fifth.
If numbers hold, Terry Taplin will take West Berkeley seat
The current ranked-choice calculations put Taplin solidly in first place with 63% of the vote. There are still a lot of ballots to count.
By the numbers: Berkeley’s final 2020 election results
Berkeley’s final 2020 election results for all the candidates and measures. Alameda County certified the results Dec. 1.
Berkeley Election 2020 live blog: News, updates and results
The latest local election results and what happened during Election Day in Berkeley — all here on Berkeleyside.
Coronavirus
In brief
Berkeley unanimously approves $5-per-hour hazard pay for grocery store workers
The law goes into effect immediately and applies to larger grocery stores with 300 or more employees.
Zip code map reveals that most of the city’s COVID-19 cases are near Cal or in West Berkeley
Cases are also higher in areas with lower socioeconomic advantages, which has been seen throughout Alameda County.
Berkeley grocery store workers, in-person teachers now eligible for COVID-19 vaccine
The city of Berkeley has been sharing public health news and recommendations about COVID-19 on its website. Berkeleyside is reprinting some of these items with permission.
COVID-19 has hit economy hard: tax revenue down 13.2%, 3,000+ jobs lost
But the news is not all bad, as a new economic report shows investors put $700 million into Berkeley’s biotech and clean-tech sectors.
Housing
Berkeley may get rid of single-family zoning as a way to correct the arc of its ugly housing history
Berkeley in 1916 was the first city to enact single-family zoning, which had the effect of pushing nonwhite people to more impoverished neighborhoods in the south and west.
Interested in plans for housing at BART? Take these surveys by Feb. 22
The city is collecting community input on affordable housing, land use, building form and public space as part of the public process around plans to build housing at BART.
Rent board pays $210K to former employee to settle retaliation charges
Public documents strongly suggest that Jay Kelekian, the former executive director, is the person who is alleged to have retaliated against the former employee.
Protesters tear down fences at Berkeley rally to save People’s Park
With echoes of People’s Park’s legacy of resistance, protesters reacted Friday to UC Berkeley taking the first steps towards developing the land for student housing.
Homelessness
Alameda County decides not to count homeless population this year
COVID-19 risks have prompted a year-long delay in the point-in-time homeless count, a “crucial data source.”
In brief
Alameda County program aims to match landlords with people transitioning out of homelessness
Berkeley says the initiative means property owners can receive a stable rental income while supporting the health of the community.
Memorial for Berkeley ‘warriors no longer with us’ highlights strain of pandemic, weather on the unhoused
A coalition of advocates for Berkeley’s homeless community gathered online to sing, pray and demand justice for the unhoused people.
Clean water is elusive for those living in homeless encampments. Is there a solution?
Unhoused residents and their supporters want the East Bay Municipal Utility District to expand water access for camps.
Transportation
Berkeley votes to limit low-level traffic stops to reduce policing disparities
Officers will focus on investigative stops and pulling over dangerous drivers rather than “random observations of minor equipment violations,” Police Chief Andrew Greenwood said.
Berkeley overhauls off-street parking with an eye toward greener future
“I know this is scary for people,” said Councilmember Kate Harrison. “It’s a change. But it’s a change I feel we have to make.”
Berkeley’s new City Council member is a poet, transportation nut, and ‘can’t imagine living anywhere else’
Taplin defeated incumbent Cheryl Davila to take the West Berkeley seat.
Berkeley’s streets are getting worse and it could take $328M to fix them, report finds
Berkeley streets are among the worst in the Bay Area.
Berkeley City Council
Look up your council district. See the Berkeley City Council roster. Review council meeting agendas.
‘State of Black Berkeley’ points to challenges, new and old, for Black residents
Activists gathered to discuss economic and racial inequality, reparations, police violence – and to celebrate accomplishments.
Ferry service, new hotel, pier rebuild among ideas to revive Berkeley Marina
Large-scale ferry service could begin in 2026 under the current timeline. A community survey about the future of the marina runs through March 12.
Policing task force applications due soon; racial equity town hall on hold
Applications are due Monday, Feb. 8, for the city’s new policing task force. An online town hall on racial equity that had been planned for this week has been postponed.
Recent stories
Loyal customers have kept this 70-year-old Berkeley stationery store going
Sonny Han, owner of Payn’s Stationery on Solano Avenue, talks about survival and his fortuitous decision to install mailboxes before the pandemic lockdown.
