Rashi Kesarwani

25Jun 2025 by Kieryn Darkwater

June News: Judge Authorizes Ohlone Encampment Closure & Middle Housing Mtg TONIGHT

Homelessness, Middle Housing, News, Newsletter

Hi Neighbor, I'm writing to you this morning with an update on the Ohlone Park Encampment court case. The judge in the case Berkeley Homeless Union v. City of Berkeley issued an order yesterday afternoon denying the plaintiffs request for a preliminary injunction to prohibit the City’s planned encampment closure of Ohlone Park. Our City Manager now has the court’s clearance to proceed with the encampment closure, and is working to do so as expeditiously as possible. The City must provide new notice (of at least 72 hours) prior to closing the Ohlone encampment and must comply with all of its policies and procedures, including as it relates to the storage of personal belongings. Here is a short summary of the ruling: The court denied the Berkeley Homeless Union’s motion…

25Apr 2025 by Kieryn Darkwater

April News: Middle Housing Mtg Postponed, Ohlone Park Mtg & More

Homelessness, Newsletter

Hi Neighbor, It was uplifting to see so many of you at the Hands Off! protest at the North Berkeley BART Station last Saturday. I felt inspired to stand with you, and I feel confident that our City Council will do everything we can to defend democratic values and human rights in these times of uncertainty and fear. As we call attention to injustices perpetrated by the federal government, I believe we also have to be laser focused on the housing injustice right here in our community that is directly within our power to redress. Over a century ago, our city pioneered exclusionary single-family zoning—explicitly designed to segregate people by race and class. For generations, single-family zoning has imposed artificial scarcity in our residential neighborhoods, gatekeeping our city so that…

11Mar 2025 by Kieryn Darkwater

March News: Homeless Encampments in City Parks

Homelessness, Newsletter

Hi Neighbor, After nearly two months under the new federal administration, I know I share the concerns of many in our community about the public programs and services abruptly halted and government workers let go. When federal funds for public programs were abruptly frozen in late January, our City staff began preparing a report for the Council that itemizes all of our federal funding sources. The City receives a total of about $27 million in direct funding from the federal government, and we must be prepared for possible cuts to federal programs on which our most vulnerable residents rely. Any loss of federal funding will require us to make even tougher choices about how to prioritize our scarce resources. Many of you have written to the Council sharing your concerns…

17Dec 2024 by Kieryn Darkwater

Reminder: Winter News: Encampment Policy Update, N. Berkeley BART Entitlement Issued & More

Homelessness, News, Newsletter, North Berkeley Bart

Hi Neighbor, I want to wish you a joyful holiday season! On the City Council, I’m pleased to welcome Mayor Adena Ishii, new Councilmembers Shoshana O’Keefe (District 5) and Brent Blackaby (District 6), and newly re-elected Councilmembers Terry Taplin (District 2) and Ben Bartlett (District 3). I look forward to working productively and collaboratively with all of my Council colleagues to address District 1 priority issues, particularly homeless encampments, public safety, and street paving. From left, Councilmember Ben Bartlett, Mayor Adena Ishii, Councilmembers Terry Taplin, Shoshana O'Keefe, and Brent Blackaby taking the oath of office. Photo: Eric Panzer In this newsletter: Homeless Encampment Policy Update #2 N. Berkeley BART: Land Use Entitlement Issued! A Call for Civility at Public Meetings Sign Up for Emergency Alerts Homeless Encampment Policy Update #2…

21Oct 2024 by Kieryn Darkwater

Oct. News: Middle Housing Community Mtg, Update on Homeless Encampment Policy & More

Event, Homelessness, Newsletter

Hi Neighbor, Happy Fall! By now, you should have received your ballot and state and local voter information guides in the mail. Please click HERE for more information on where to return your ballot by Nov. 5, visiting a vote center, and/or tracking your ballot and local election results. Also, please mark your calendar for some festive fall events coming up. (I highly recommend the haunted house!) In this newsletter: Oct. 24: Middle Housing Community Meeting Update on Homeless Encampment Policy Community Meetings for Parks Middle Housing Community Meeting on Oct. 24 My office will be co-hosting a Community Meeting on Middle Housing with District 2 Councilmember Terry Taplin and our City’s Planning staff this Thurs., Oct. 24 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Berkeley Adult School (1701 San…

09Sep 2024 by Kieryn Darkwater

Sept. News: Encampment Policy ACTION ALERT, N. Berkeley BART Funding Update & More

Newsletter, North Berkeley Bart

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…

24Apr 2024 by Kieryn Darkwater

April News: San Pablo Safety Upgrades, Gilman District Street Fair, Bike Race & More

Newsletter

Hi neighbor, Happy Spring! I’m honored to share that the City of Berkeley has earned a “Pro-Housing” Designation from the state’s Housing and Community Development Department (HCD). By earning the Pro-housing Designation, Berkeley will now be eligible to receive exclusive access to pro-housing grants and additional points in the scoring of competitive housing, community development, and infrastructure funding programs administered by HCD. Among our housing policy achievements, the state highlighted our Planning Department’s work to simplify the permit application process for backyard cottages, or Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs): …the city facilitates Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) production by prioritizing ADU permit applications, having one dedicated ADU planner, and providing a website with FAQs and links to ease ADU planning. These important process improvements, which follow best practices proven to be effective…

12Mar 2024 by Kieryn Darkwater

March News: Community Safety Mtg, Ohlone Greenway Funding & More

Newsletter

Hi Neighbor, I was disheartened to hear about the multiple reports of auto break-ins in District 1 locations over the last month. On Feb. 21, 23 car break-ins occurred at the N. Berkeley BART parking lot; and the following evening, several blocks in West Berkeley experienced more than 50 car burglaries. According to Police Chief Jen Louis, the victimized areas in West Berkeley include residential parking lots in the 2000 blocks of Fourth and Fifth streets, 1400 block of Seventh Street, 800-1000 block of Jones, 900 block of Cedar, 1400 block of Santa Fe and possibly the 2700 block of Acton. The perpetrators primarily rifled through center consoles and glove boxes. Police investigators are following leads taken from security cameras installed close by. I have introduced and supported Council items…

23Jan 2024 by Kieryn Darkwater

January News: San Pablo Ave Community Mtg & Coat Drive

Homelessness, Newsletter

Hi Neighbor, I wish you my best as we begin a new year. Earlier this month, the Mayor lamented the deterioration of civil discourse among a subset of activists in the Council chambers. The loss of life, suffering, and destruction in Gaza is hard to witness, and I pray everyday for a sustainable lasting peace. My heart breaks for victims of this war on both sides, and for their loved ones here and around the world. Still, it is deeply regrettable that some find it acceptable to shout down those with whom they disagree. I pray that we seek kindness over vitriol, empathy over self-righteousness, and unity over division. All of us who serve in elected office have at times been on the receiving end of uncivil behavior, often…

07Dec 2023 by Rashi Kesarwani

Winter News: Final BART Mtg, Street Paving, AC Transit Routes

Event, News, Newsletter, North Berkeley Bart, Sidewalks and Streets

Hi Neighbor, Happy Hanukkah to all those celebrating this evening. In this season of giving thanks, I feel especially grateful for the opportunity to serve our community. A large part of my service involves reading and listening to your varied perspectives—from local issues such as housing at N. Berkeley BART and street paving to the war in the Middle East. I offer my prayers for peace, and my prayers for those in our community who have lost loved ones and are experiencing deep grief and pain. I respect the right of all to protest, and I understand and sympathize with strongly-held beliefs on issues of war and peace that we have heard of late in the Council chambers. Because of the disruption at recent Council meetings, the Mayor has been…

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