In brief
Glitch in state COVID-19 data may be causing underreporting in Berkeley
The glitch affects positive case rates, but not deaths and hospitalizations.
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City
Top Stories
Berkeley has put $580K behind the arts. The caveat: no one can congregate to enjoy them
Although the pandemic has brought many cultural events to a grinding halt, the arts in Berkeley are not kaput. The city is moving forward with plans for new public art. Here’s what to look forward to in coming months.
What’s on the Berkeley ballot? Pay raises for mayor and council, Uber surcharge, new police oversight, more
There will be eight Berkeley measures on the Nov. 3 ballot. Here’s what to expect.
In brief
In brief
The pandemic has people stressed, scared and anxious. Tell the city of Berkeley how it can help
In a community survey, 56% of respondents said mental health was their biggest worry about the pandemic. The city wants to know what people need.
In brief
‘Ohlone Territory’ mural painted on downtown Berkeley street
The city of Berkeley painted the red and white mural. In early June, Berkeley High students painted Black Lives Matter in giant yellow letters on Allston Way.
Housing
City protections, support for renters struggling due to COVID-19
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.
Update: Berkeley residents won’t vote in November on repealing 40-year-old law exempting some duplexes from rent control
Mayor Jesse Arreguín made the decision to pull the golden duplex item after so many council members recused themselves that it made it difficult to move the issue forward.
Berkeley ‘golden duplex’ vote highlights conflicts between tenants and landlords
The City Council will look tonight at whether to place a measure on the November ballot eliminating the rent control exemption for golden duplexes.
8 new housing projects approved in Berkeley in 2020
Berkeley’s zoning board has approved eight medium-to-large housing projects around the city in 2020 totalling 560 units. See the roundup.
Coronavirus
COVID-19 is to blame for under-staffed and closed Berkeley post offices
Postal workers said that only two of their colleagues got the virus but they may have exposed others, leading some to self-quarantine. A driver in Oakland has died of COVID-19.
More commercial businesses, ‘pop-ups’ can operate outdoors with expanded rule
More businesses will now be able to set on sidewalks and in parking lots after the City Council expanded a law.
Berkeley to set up popup COVID-19 testing site in San Pablo Park
For two days, on July 29 and July 30, people will be able do their own oral tests and drop the results in a receptacle. Results are expected in 24 to 48 hours.
What to do if an employee tests positive for COVID-19
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.
Homelessness
Are you unhoused in Oakland, Berkeley, or Emeryville? Caltrans might owe you money
Homeless people whose belongings were confiscated by Caltrans can file a claim under a new settlement. Here’s how.
‘A mini-urban miracle,’ new Berkeley homeless housing could be model for the state
It’s been a big week for subsidized housing in Berkeley. And it just got bigger.
Berkeley wins $42 million in grants for 150 units of affordable housing
Mayor Jesse Arreguín said it’s the largest amount he could recall Berkeley ever having gotten from the state for affordable housing over his 16 years serving the city.
Alameda County to lease 2 hotels in Berkeley for homeless housing
As many as 60 people from Berkeley will now move indoors from shelters or tents.
Berkeley City Council
Look up your council district. See the Berkeley City Council roster. Review council meeting agendas.
Berkeley police will track, share more use-of-force data under new rules
Berkeley officials voted early Friday morning to adopt an updated use-of-force policy for police that will expand what types of force officers track and report, and how they make this information available to the public.
Racist neighbors pushed this South Asian woman out of her home. Now Berkeley is poised to name a street after her.
Kala Bagai arrived in the U.S. with her family in 1915. Like many other Asians in Berkeley, she was discriminated against.
Berkeley council approves ‘omnibus motion’ on police reform
The city will work to create a new transportation department with a “racial justice lens” and a Specialized Care Unit staffed by a “network of crisis responders” to respond to non-criminal calls, among other changes.
Transportation
AC Transit may cut bus service in Berkeley to weather financial losses caused by COVID-19
Ridership on AC Transit has dropped 71% during the pandemic, causing millions of dollars in losses. Cuts to service would happen in 2021.
Berkeley wanted ‘slow streets.’ Now we’ll have them.
About 2 miles of Berkeley streets will be barricaded off on one side to slow traffic and encourage walking and bicycling.
Berkeley city manager may waive your ticket fine (but only if you ask her)
We have the details about how to request a review of your street-sweeping tickets.
Berkeley relaxes parking enforcement rules due to shelter-in-place order
Drivers are set to get some relief from several types of parking rules following this week’s regional shelter-in-place order from health officials. Certain rules — like those for street sweeping — are still in effect.
Election 2020
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.
Update: Voters approve all 3 Berkeley school measures
With 100% of precincts reporting, Measures E and G each had 79% of the votes, while Measure H was at 82%.
Questions swirl about who’s behind cryptic ‘Better Berkeley Times’ mailer
A landlord political action committee turns out to be backer of a pamphlet raising concerns about Berkeley property taxes and mismanagement of public funds.
Recent Stories
Berkeley Public Library poised to get first permanent director in 3 years
The Board of Library Trustees has interviewed three strong candidates and plans to select a director soon.
Construction of new 5G cell sites blocked by Berkeley protesters — for now
A group of activists believes that the proliferation of 4G and 5G sites will increase radiation output and increase cancer cases. Widely accepted science does not back them up.
Berkeley might make it harder to impose curfews that target protests or ‘First Amendment’ activity
If adopted, a new proposal would make it harder to order curfews in relation to protests, as was done in May.
