The city of Berkeley expects to spend more than $20 million in the next year on a range of ambitious infrastructure projects funded by Measure T1, a $100 million bond that won landslide support from voters in 2016.
More than two months after a neighborhood outcry over the fate of trees and plants in Berkeley's traffic circles, the city has not yet decided what role neighbors may play in tending them in the future.
In response to a significant community outcry, the city has taken a step back from a plan to remove "any and all trees" from the 60 or so traffic circles in Berkeley.
With questions raised over whether city officials can legally make decisions about police training, Mayor Jesse Arreguín pulled his support from a recent vote on Urban Shield.
Officials voted Tuesday night to create a new yearlong task force to study racial disparities in police stops in Berkeley to consider whether changes should be made.
Tension was high Tuesday night as the Berkeley City Council debated interim uses for the Premier Cru site and plans to build homeless housing on the Berkeley Way parking lot.
"Let’s put forward our best proposal," said Mayor Jesse Arreguín. "If they accept it, great. If not, we’ll build this facility."
With a slated Aug. 27 Berkeley rally top of mind, the council held a special meeting and voted to allow a ban on certain items in a designated area for one day.
Council voted Tuesday night to ramp up parking enforcement by adding 15 automated license plate readers to the small pilot program it launched last year.
While Berkeley must work to solve its pension liabilities, the city has an excellent staff with deep experience in addressing fiscal matters.
On a field trip to City Hall, students in a Malcolm X Elementary School class brought their ideas on homelessness to their elected officials.
Dee Williams-Ridley currently commutes to Berkeley from Sacramento.
The city of Berkeley has doubled its capacity for emergency storm shelter beds this week, following a council directive to get more homeless individuals indoors, and will make those beds available through Monday night in light of current weather conditions.
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