Dear Neighbor,
I want to inform you about an important policy item I have authored to address unsafe homeless encampments that have persisted for years in West Berkeley, causing detrimental impacts to residents, workers, business owners, and visitors. The Encampment Policy Resolution, co-sponsored by Councilmembers Susan Wengraf and Mark Humbert, would enable the City of Berkeley to finally take action to close hazardous encampments in the Harrison corridor and Cedar and Second Street area of District 1, and deter re-encampment through hardscaping, signage, and enforcement of state and local laws. The policy is a balanced reasonable approach that continues the City’s commitment to offer shelter whenever practicable, and also allows City staff to address encampments that pose a fire, imminent health hazard or other serious risk, as narrowly defined in the Berkeley Municipal Code. The City is newly able to consider this nuanced approach after The City of Grants Pass v. Johnson decision overturned prior legal precedent. Currently, City staff do not have the authority to close these types of narrowly-defined dangerous encampments. If the Council fails to adopt this item, City staff will not have the direction they need to close dangerous encampments in West Berkeley. For more background and detail, you can read my full item—“Encampment Policy Resolution to Promote Healthy and Safe Neighborhoods and Related First Reading of Ordinance” by clicking HERE. Berkeleyside also covered the issue HERE.
Conditions on Harrison between Seventh and Eighth Streets, as documented by Fire Department (Aug. 2023).
ACTION REQUEST: Tell the City Council to VOTE YES on the Encampment Policy Resolution and Related First Reading of Ordinance during the Council meeting TOMORROW, Tues., Sept. 10.
If you agree that West Berkeley deserves better, then the Council needs to hear your support for this item. There are three ways you can communicate this message to the Mayor and City Council:
1) Attend the City Council meeting in person TOMORROW, Tues., Sept. 10 to make a public comment on the action calendar (the second part of the meeting, after the consent calendar). The meeting is held at the BUSD Board Room, 1231 Addison St. and the action calendar will likely not start before 7 p.m. (the meeting begins at 6 p.m.).
2) Join the meeting virtually via Zoom to make a public comment: https://cityofberkeley-info.zoomgov.com/j/1607838997. The link is also posted on the first page of the agenda found HERE.
3) Send an e-mail to the City Council using this address: council@berkeleyca.gov.
Here’s a sample e-mail to personalize or use as-is:
Dear Mayor and Members of the City Council:
Please vote YES on Councilmember Kesarwani’s encampment policy item, “Encampment Policy Resolution to Promote Healthy and Safe Neighborhoods and Related First Reading of Ordinance.” The policy is a balanced reasonable approach that continues the City’s commitment to offer shelter whenever practicable, and also allows City staff to address encampments that pose a fire, imminent health hazard or other serious risk, as narrowly defined in the Berkeley Municipal Code. Without this action by the City Council, our City staff will not be able to close dangerous encampments. It is not progressive to allow people to live in unsafe conditions that are detrimental to neighboring residents, workers, and visitors. Please HELP US to achieve CLEAN AND SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS.
THANK YOU,
[YOUR NAME]
North Berkeley BART Development Update
Last month, the North Berkeley Housing Partners Development Team was awarded a total of $49,267,999 from California’s Affordable Housing Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Program.The AHSC Program is funded by revenues from California’s cap-and-trade program, and supports projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The $49 million award breaks down as follows:
- $34,146,400 for affordable housing;
- $14,267,999 for transportation (projects listed below); and
- $853,600 for programs funding.
Photo: Jill Martinucci
The $34 million award for affordable housing will provide significant resources for a 120-unit 100 percent affordable development serving individuals and families with incomes ranging from 30- to 70 percent of the Area Median Income. These funds build upon the $26.5 million that the City of Berkeley has already committed to the N. Berkeley BART Development from proceeds of our Measure O affordable housing bond and Housing Trust Fund. The development team hopes to break ground on its first building in early 2026, contingent upon receiving tax credits and a tax-exempt bond allocation in 2025.
The $14 million award for transportation will fund the following projects (hat tip to Bike East Bay):
- An extension of the Ohlone Greenway bike/walk path through the site, from the corner of Acton and Virginia Streets to the corner of Delaware and Sacramento Streets;
- New sidewalks on Virginia and Sacramento Streets, and along the Station Access Road through the site;
- Class IV separated bikeways around the station perimeter including on Virginia Street from Acton to Sacramento;
- A publicly accessible plaza above the BART tunnel which runs diagonally across the site;
- Five new bus shelters and boarding islands around the station; and
- Upgrades to the Class II painted bicycle lane on Sixth Street from Camelia to University, west of the station area
Meetings: Environmental Testing at Cesar Chavez Park & Waterfront Specific Plan
The City’s Public Works Department will hold a public meeting TOMORROW, Tues., Sept. 10 from 1-2 p.m. at 1947 Center Street (basement) regarding the City’s plan to test for radioactive material at Cesar Chavez Park. The City learned in January that a chemical company may have deposited radioactive industrial waste decades ago at the former landfill on which the park currently sits. For more information about environmental testing at Cesar Chavez Park, please visit the City’s information page and/or follow Berkeleyside’s excellent coverage.
On Mon., Sept. 30 from 6:30-8 p.m., the City will hold a Waterfront Specific Plan Community Meeting on Zoom.
