Nico Savidge joined Berkeleyside in 2021 as a senior reporter covering city hall. Oftentimes, these conversations have happened on streets he frequented growing up, and where he still spends his time as an adult. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group) That's because Berkeley could become the first city in the nation where unarmed transportation employees, not. Karen Hemphill, a Berkeley School Board member for 12 years and an activist in the city since the 70s, had initially planned to run against Davila this year, but instead decided to throw her support behind Taplin. So those were the ones he concentrated on, said his campaign manager, 20-year-old UC Berkeley junior Varsha Sarveshwar. However, it is not written in the charter that the positions are part-time. Despite the lengthy process, Robinson expressed gratitude for contributors including the Public Works team and advocates such as Telegraph for People, The Bike Berkeley and East Bay Transit Riders Union. Mary-Lee Smith, an attorney who sits on Berkeleys Mental Health Commission, also qualified for the ballot but wrote in an email to supporters Wednesday that she is ending her campaign and throwing her support behind Mendonca. The role is much more than just showing up on Tuesday evenings to cast votes. The reporters and editors at Berkeleyside are dedicated to covering our city and providing you with the information you need to be an informed citizen. 28 Jun 2023 17:42:18 Berkeleyside relies on reader support to remain free for everyone in our community. Donate to Berkeleysideand support independent local journalism. The City Council is responsible for approving the annual budget, service contracts, labor agreements, and other official documents required to conduct city operations. Email TTaplin@berkeleyca.gov. No, they are not.. It has never been clearer that our city requires full-time leadership to tackle these momentous issues. Governing Council members are elected by the general membership to serve a three-year term, from July through June. The next update from the Alameda County registrar of voters office is scheduled to come Thursday at 5 p.m. Berkeleyside relies on reader support to remain free for everyone in our community. He comes from a working class family, the kind of family that, in many ways, is not here anymore in this district. Seats representing council districts 1, 4, 7 and 8 are on ballots this year, along with spots on the citys Rent Stabilization Board and school board. Yelimeli grew up in Fremont and Thus, for many years, our elected officials have been governing our city for compensation that pales in comparison to the weight and scope of the role. We consistently punch above our weight time and time again, legislation introduced by our council paves the way for similar efforts in other cities or at the state level. Rashi Kesarwani and Mark Humbert were leading in the District 1 and 8 Berkeley City Council election, as of Tuesday night. Nobody has ever gotten all three factions to endorse them.. BSA members (all UCB staff) are welcome at Governing Council meetings. Gerhardstein (who was dismissed from the city transportation commission by Davila) is a co-founder of Walk Bike Berkeley, and supports Taplins transportation goals. Following the remembrance, Councilmember Rigel Robinson addressed the approved contract for the paving of the Southside Complete Streets Project. It was really learning as we went, Sarveshwar said. However, pursuant to the Charter [], November 14, 2022TTaplin@cityofberkeley.info Councilmember Taplin Statement on Police Misconduct Allegations I am deeply disturbed and troubled by the recent surfacing of texts exhibiting anti-homeless andanti-Black racial bias distributed by an officer of the Berkeley Police Department. Before joining The Chronicle, Holly wrote for the Toronto Star and, most recently, the BBCs DC bureau, where she completed a reporting trip to the Mexico-US border to cover protests to US immigration policy. It also helps your family, friends and Berkeley neighbors have access to reliable, independent reporting. This is whats playing out for 22-year-old Rigel Robinson. As families grapple with job loss during the pandemic, consolidate in small homes and give up outlets like social gatherings and sports, she said stressors are high and West Berkeley has seen some of the violent consequences. In housing, policing, and nearly every other issue, differences pop up between residents who have lived in the city for generations and felt the scars of the past, and those who are younger and newer to the issues. More. Your donation goes beyond supporting our journalism. It is authorized to establish and enforce laws and regulations related to municipal affairs, subject to the limitations and restrictions of the City Charter and the State Constitution. These meetings are open to the public and subject to the Open Meetings Act. Frances Dinkelspiel, Berkeleyside and CItyside co-founder, is a journalist and author. He secured endorsements from all eight members and Mayor Jesse Arregun. Voters will also have their say on three ballot measures: City Council District 4, which includes downtown and Central Berkeley, seemed at one point to be set for a competitive race, with Councilmember Kate Harrison facing a challenge from nonprofit director Greg Magofa. Council members are deeply engaged in governing the city: between approving the budget; attending council meetings and community town halls; drafting legislation, holding office hours; and answering hundreds of letters, emails, and calls that come flooding into city hall on any given week. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Nonprofit news. The new amount sets the mayors salary at the same rate as the median income for a three-person household in Alameda County. If you value what you get from Berkeleyside, please join us with atax-deductible donationso we can continue doing the local reporting that matters to you. Thats a 10-point bump from 2014 and marks the highest youth turnout in a midterm election in the past quarter century. Questions? Terry Taplin is a poet and Berkeley City Councilmember representing District 2, West and Southwest Berkeley. Advertisement. Taplin, along with with Mayor Jesse Arregun, council members Bartlett, Lori Droste, Sophie Hahn, Rashi Kesarwani, Rigel Robinson and Susan Wengraf, voted to add another story on buildings along Adeline. We will be joined by the Berkeley Police Department and its Community Services Bureau. Worst weve ever seen: Huge crowds crush Yosemite, Yosemite finalizes controversial rules for climbing El Capitan, Half Dome. Regular council meetings are broadcast on the citys government access channel, WBRK, and available for on-demand viewing on YouTube. Well be meeting at noon at Ciel Creative Space on 935 Carleton St. District 1 incumbent Councilmember Rashi Kesarwani faces two challengers in her bid for a second term: Elisa Mikiten, an Affordable Housing Planner and chair of the citys Planning Commission, and holistic health and disability advocate Tamar Michai Freeman. When Newport led the city from 1979 to 1996, he was one of the first mayors to march in solidarity at the LGBTQ+ San Francisco Pride parade. And, well, if Im going to be here, I might as well get to work so kids like me can keep growing up here.. Im not naive to think that hes not going to take some controversial positions thats the nature of the job but I think hes going to do a better job explainingwhy hes thinking through these issues, that hes accounting for different positions, Gerhardstein said, adding that Taplin will be more approachable and transparent than his predecessor. Election Day is Nov. 8. The salaries of the mayor and City Council members will increase by 75%, thanks to the apparent passage of Measure JJ. (AP . Proponents said the raises will allow more people to run for public office. Terry Taplin is a poet and Berkeley City Councilmember representing District 2, West and Southwest Berkeley. He was an English instructional assistant at Berkeley City College and has pursued poetry for nearly his whole life, which he says guides the way he thinks and has made him an active listener. Please wear closed-toed shoes and comfortable clothing; supplies will be provided. This falls short of language to defund the police as Davila had proposed, but Taplin said its more in line with what hes heard from constituents. The reporters and editors at Berkeleyside are dedicated to covering our city and providing you with the information you need to be an informed citizen. Copyright 2023 The Daily Californian, The Independent Berkeley Student Publishing Co., Inc. All rights reserved. It will certainly make my life easier, said Mayor Jesse Arrregun. Governing Council Meetings- are held on the 1st and 3rd Thursday from 12:10-1:00pm seecalendar for location and details. It is an honor to serve the residents of Berkeley, and I look forward to hearing from you. Its clear to me that since my time on the council, the disparity between the scope and compensation of the role has only grown. In many ways, thats a little ridiculous, he said. I never really had a chance to consider for myself whether it should be me. Raises should reflect performance, reads the ballot argument against Measure JJ, which was signed by Ted Edlin, the former chair of the Housing Advisory Commission and Eric Friedman, a 20-year resident, among others. The City Council raise ballot measure will boost the mayors salary from $67,599 to $107,300. City of Berkeley - Seismic Programs, Exterior Elevated Elements (E3) Program, Amnesty Program for Unpermitted Dwellings Units Your donation goes beyond supporting our journalism. We were very, very cognizant of that concern, Sarveshwar said. Berkeley is just as much a city of firsts as are San Francisco, Oakland, or any other major city. VoteCrew creator and Rise California member Maxwell Lubin, center, and Berkeley City Council candidate Rigel Robinson help Cal student Harry Lee, left, register to vote during a VoteCrew event during National Voter Registration Day on the UC Berkeley campus in Berkeley, Calif., on Tuesday September 25, 2018. Regular council meetings are broadcast on the citys government access channel, WBRK, and available for on-demand viewing on YouTube. I wont have to scrimp and save to live in this community.. Approximately 26 City Council meetings are held annually. A mobility and environmental justice activist, Terry has led on housing, green transportation, and fights for a climate resilient future. The City Council is the City of Berkleys governing body, composed of the Mayorand sixcouncil members elected from the city at large. Claim this business. Councilmember Susan Wengraf remembered Walker as an extraordinary woman and a passionate advocate of equity and justice. Wengraf noted that Walkers influence can be seen in many of the citys policies throughout the last 50 years after her work with the city Planning Commission. Seats representing council districts 1, 4, 7 and 8 are on ballots this year, along with spots on the city's Rent Stabilization Board and school board. Robinson announced his candidacy in April, almost three moths before longtime Councilman Kriss Worthington announced his plans to retire. With early voting already begun, he faces two seasoned political veterans: New York Assembly members Al Taylor, 65, and Inez Dickens, 73, who previously represented Harlem on the City Council. Measure JJ is good public policy, will not require a tax increase, and will enable citizens from all financial backgrounds to serve. abolition of prisons and police departments. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. City Council members are allowed to hold other jobs, but Robinson has no plans to look for one. He secured endorsements from all eight members and Mayor Jesse Arregun. Im over 60, so time to let a younger generation with deep roots in the community have their time in the sun, so to speak.. But it has also increased the council workload, as each councilmember now sits on two additional committees. On behalf of the City Council, I want to extend our deepest condolences to her family. Low compensation for public officials shuts out a large number of qualified candidates: particularly low-income residents, single parents, working-class residents, people of color, and young people who would bring a much-needed perspective to the council. Berkeley cops to stop issuing traffic tickets under sweeping police changes Mayor Arreguin's omnibus measure approved over Council member Davila's call to defund department by 50%. We should have a full-time council, he said. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Alameda County registrar of voters office, If numbers hold, Terry Taplin will take West Berkeley seat, By the numbers: Berkeleys final 2020 election results, Whats on the Berkeley ballot? Donate to Berkeleysideand support independent local journalism. After a brief, post-campaign hibernation, Robinson has begun his transition planning. In instances like these, he said hes prioritized making himself available to those affected. If you value what you get from Berkeleyside, please join us with atax-deductible donationso we can continue doing the local reporting that matters to you. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Nonprofit news. Theres a lot of tokenism that goes on in Berkeley, and you have a lot of people speaking on behalf of Black people without speaking to Black people.. Rigel Robinson, a candidate running for the Berkeley City Council District 7 seat, carries voter information while walking on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley, Calif. on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. Check back regularly for updates on our work, and most importantly,sign up for our newsletter! Berkeleyside relies on reader support to remain free for everyone in our community. May her life be an inspiration to all of us.. Following the remembrance, the city council thanked contributors to the Southside Complete Streets project and discussed preserving the "Reparations Now!" Summer series continues at parks across Berkeley. Affordable Housing Guide|Trash pickup fees rising|Budgets OK'd:City, $719M BUSD, $218M|From Kharkiv to Berkeley|Get The Scene, our arts newsletter. Berkeley residents expect a lot from their council members. It also helps your family, friends and Berkeley neighbors have access to reliable, independent reporting. Worthington has been on the council for 22 years, or as long as Robinson has been alive. The pandemic has interrupted some of his ambitions around a robust public transportation system, but he said many of his constituents are transit-dependent for their work, even during shelter-in-place orders. https://twitter.com/TaplinTerry/status/1334320682415443968?s=20, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window). But he wants to make it clear that his ego is not driving his leadership. He was wearing his first suit one he had originally ordered for his swearing-in ceremony, but hadnt arrived in time. So I think he relates to some of the angst around that, she said. When hes sworn in Dec. 8, hell become the youngest council member in Berkeleys history. I wasnt just looking for any student, Worthington said. Early voting for the 2022 election begins Oct. 10, which is also when you can start returning your vote-by-mail ballot. Taplin supports the councils Reimagining Public Safety Taskforce, Bartletts Ceasefire program, and said during his campaign that hes in favor of reallocating police revenue to other departments through a data-informed approach. Work sessions and other special meetings are held as needed.For more information on the organization and duties of the Berkley City Council,click here. I am humbled by the opportunity to serve my community. The mayor and council oversee the fourth-largest employer in the city with a budget of $450 million and more than 1,500 employees. Berkeley has a new city council member to represent District 2 as it heads into 2021. As the first female vice chancellor of UC Berkeley, Walker added Clark Kerr Campus to the university and consistently worked with residents of Peoples Park. Robinson's candidacy also earned the approval of an arguably tougher set of judges: the current members of the City Council. The mural was initially painted during the summer of 2020 following the murder of George Floyd, though Public Works staff painted over the image in the spring of 2023. Another one of the members is known as the Council-at-Large, who is considered the Vice President of the Council. In Year of the Millennial, Berkeley elects its youngest council member yet, Read more about how The Chronicle covers politics and what we do to ensure fairness in our reporting, These Millennials arent just voting: They want your vote, Why Im betting on Millennials this election day, S.F. You can look up your council district on this page. Mayor Jesse Arregun also recognized former Berkeley mayor Newports death, noting that Newport began his pursuit of racial justice working alongside Macolm X in the 1960s. We offer opportunities for professional growth and development, as well as a comprehensive benefits package. Arregun has said that Berkeley has always had a part-time mayor and council, in theory, and this vote should change that. Office of Berkeley City Councilmember Rigel Robinson2180 Milvia Street, 5th FloorBerkeley, CA 94704, (510) 981-7170 | RRobinson@cityofberkeley.info, City of Berkeley Council District Locator. We have the momentum to try things and get away with things that its not possible to do in other places, Robinson said. Madison Creekbaum | Staff < 1 HOUR AGO Berkeley City Council honored the lives of city trailblazers and justice advocates Dorothy Walker and Gus Newport during its meeting Tuesday. Ben Gerhardstein was one of the first people to hear from Taplin that he intended to run for Council, and he said hes watched Taplin study his way to the top in the months since. As I got to know Terry, I felt that he would fill that void well, Hemphill said. Berkeley residents were in a generous mood on Election Day, voting to give 75% pay raises to Mayor Jesse Arregun and the City Council. If they miss a meeting, they dont get paid unless they have been formally excused. defund the police as Davila had proposed, endorsing Taplin, and calling him a homegrown leader, dismissed from the city transportation commission by Davila), Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. (510) 981-7190. We put together a guide to the essentials of how to register and vote, whats on the ballot, voters rights and more. If you value what you get from Berkeleyside, please join us with atax-deductible donationso we can continue doing the local reporting that matters to you. Sept 25th, 2021,12:00p-2:00pStrawberry Creek Park Join Councilmember Taplin and Councilmember Kesarwani (D1) for joint office hours in the park! Email: holly.honderich@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hollyhonderich. I'm your Berkeley City Councilmember. He will face Mari Mendonca, a member of the Rent Stabilization Board since 2019; nonprofit founder Peter Bruce DuMont; and insurance agent Jay Wu. 1 of 5 Berkeley Mayor, Tom Bates scratches his head while listening to public comment at the council meeting on Tuesday, May 5, 2009. Apply for a residential preferential parking permit, Find your new best friend at the Berkeley Animal Shelter. They would have been there, he added, when his childhood best friend was evicted and forced out of their home, or when a friend of his was shot to death. For hard-core skeptics, Robinson gave out his personal phone number, sometimes following up with handwritten thank-you notes. City Council The City Council is the City of Berkley's governing body, composed of the Mayor and six council members elected from the city at large. Robinson decided to run for city council at the end of his senior year after he and a group of friends discussed the need for a student voice on city council. These meetings are open to the public and subject to the Open Meetings Act. He has lived in Berkeley for 54 years. I think Kriss just had a very high threshold for compatibility for whoever his next successor would be.. Service has to precede ego, it has to precede agenda, it has to precede all those ancient beefs from the 90s, because this city will, hopefully, outlast every single last one of our egos, Taplin said. A mobility and environmental justice activist, Terry has led on housing, green transportation, and fights for a climate resilient future. Connect with us online, by phone, or in person. JANUARY 22, 2019. It also helps your family, friends and Berkeley neighbors have access to reliable, independent reporting. Bring friends, join neighbors, and enjoy movies under the stars. Affirmative action ban: Californias prohibition offers grim warning S.F. The salaries for council members salaries will be set at 63% of the mayors salary. Rigel and his peers at UC Berkeley resolved that with a supermajority of students, it was time for a student to run. They pose a high risk of starting fires. It was authored by former Councilmember Gordon Wozniak, Khin Chin, the president of SEIU Local 1021 Community Services Chapter, and Daniel Newman, who authored Berkeleys public campaign finance law, among others. The e-mail address for the entire City Council is council@berkleymich.net. That was a big moment for us, Robinson said. City election records show the only challenger in that race, Peoples Park activist Aidan Hill, did not qualify for the ballot. But Magofa ended his campaign in June, writing in a Twitter thread that he plans to move out of Berkeley because he can no longer afford to live in the city. Thats the gem were mining for that future city.. Remembering, paving and painting at City Council meeting. In response to community interest, the city created a policy committee structure in 2018 which has allowed for deeper public engagement and more informed, nuanced legislation. MARCH 16, 2022 Berkeley City Council members agreed to build affordable housing, remove construction height limits and address exclusionary zoning at a meeting to discuss the future of. Its livable, he said. Robinson joined a surge of young people who took part in the midterm elections, both as voters and candidates. You shouldnt have to be independently wealthy or retired to serve on the city council.. The reporters and editors at Berkeleyside are dedicated to covering our city and providing you with the information you need to be an informed citizen. Two Berkeley City Council districts will see contested elections this fall, while two councilmembers and City Auditor Jenny Wong are cruising to re-election unopposed. As I got to know Terry, I felt that he would fill that void well, Hemphill said. Free for all, funded by readers. Hemphill also pushed back on criticisms that as Taplin joins a progressive-majority Council, he wont speak for himself or introduce ideas that go against the left-of-center grain. Donate to Berkeleysideand support independent local journalism. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), spots on the citys Rent Stabilization Board, infrastructure and affordable housing bond, announced she would not seek a third term, a guide to the essentials of how to register and vote, whats on the ballot, voters rights and more, The League of Women Voters Berkeley Albany and Emeryville, City Council races test Berkeleys new direction on housing, BART housing looms large in race for Berkeley City Council District 1, 4 candidates seek open Berkeley City Council District 8 seat, Election 2022: Rashi Kesarwani, Elisa Mikiten lead fundraising for City Council, Meet the 6 candidates running for Berkeley school board, Election 2022: School board candidates answer Berkeleyside questions, Teachers unions compete with Reichi Lee in big-money Berkeley school board race, In Berkeley rent board race, evictions, housing stock are up for debate, Election 2022: Rent board candidates answer Berkeleyside questions, Tenants slate has fundraising edge as real estate groups sit out Berkeley rent board race, Measure L: From streets to housing, $650M bond takes aim at Berkeleys biggest challenges, Measure M, Berkeleys vacancy tax, aims to curb real estate speculation, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. Affordable Housing Guide|Trash pickup fees rising|Budgets OK'd:City, $719M BUSD, $218M|From Kharkiv to Berkeley|Get The Scene, our arts newsletter. Berkeley City Council meetings frequently last five hours . The raises will go into effect as soon as the city files its charter changes with the state, which will probably happen in January, according to City Clerk Mark Numainville. Were trying to help residents think more inclusively of one another, he said. Rod Daus-Magbual, Council Member, Daly City Cheryl Davila, Berkeley City Council Member, Berkeley Eddie De La Riva, Mayor, City of Maywood Bruce Delgado, Mayor, Marina Francisco Estrada, Watsonville City Councilmember Nikki Fortunato Bas, Oakland City Council Waymond Fermon, Indio City Councilmember Drew Glover, Council Member, Santa Cruz APRIL 15, 2021 Berkeley City Council members and city residents expressed opposition to UC Berkeley's proposed Long Range Development Plan, or LRDP, at a special council meeting. When Davila beat Moore in 2014, she was the first council member to unseat an incumbent in almost 20 years. Taplin hasnt had a major role in city politics apart from positions on the citys transportation and civic arts commissions. Affordable Housing Guide|Trash pickup fees rising|Budgets OK'd:City, $719M BUSD, $218M|From Kharkiv to Berkeley|Get The Scene, our arts newsletter. Sign up for Berkeleyside's new arts & events newsletter. You can always write me atRRobinson@CityofBerkeley.infoor call my office at (510) 981-7170. I served on the Berkeley City Council for 12 years, after I retired from my scientific career. An estimated 31 percent of eligible voters ages 18 to 29 cast ballots this fall, according to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University. The current compensation system pays the mayor and council members for each meeting they attend. Governing Council members are elected by the general membership to serve a three-year term, from July through June. The City Council consists of seven members elected for 4 year terms. mural. Hes focusing on his first job in the professional world. Mainly, he says he believes in West Berkeley, and his constituents have shown that they support his vision as the city works to come out on the other side of COVID-19. Taplin is well aware that hes new to the scene, and that his votes not his ambitions are going to speak for him when it comes time to assess his track record. Current council members are: Rodney Hammond Scott Lee Chip McDaniel Bob Smith Rebecca Spitler My roommate is moving within the year and I am now priced out. . The Governing Council (GC) coordinates BSA activities, sets goals, and maintains a liaison with UC administration. Berkeleyside relies on reader support to remain free for everyone in our community. I hope this website may be a useful resource to you. Rigel Robinson, a candidate running for the Berkeley City Council District 7 seat, walks on Telegraph Avenue to canvass a nearby neighborhood in Berkeley, Calif. on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. We have three different factions on the City Council. Young people also turned up on ballots as candidates, with considerable success. I was really running because I thought there was a void in leadership in this district. The fields early frontrunner is Mark Humbert, an attorney who has picked up endorsements from Droste, Mayor Jesse Arregun and five other members of the City Council. Our wish is to have the mural be a touchstone for educators at Malcolm X., Contact Madison Creekbaum at[emailprotected]. 2180 Milvia St Berkeley CA 94704. The two competitive City Council races will be in District 1, which covers Northwest Berkeley, and District 8 in the citys southeast corner, including the Elmwood District and Claremont neighborhood. If you value what you get from Berkeleyside, please join us with atax-deductible donationso we can continue doing the local reporting that matters to you. No one else is running for the seat, meaning Harrison who District 4 voters chose in a 2017 special election and the regular election in 2018 is headed for a second four-year term. My time on the council is well behind me now, but in that role, I came to understand this city and its place in the world in new ways. City Council members want to divert more nonviolent 911 calls from police officers . Come January, at least 26 House members will be Millennials, people ages 22 to 37, according to the Pew Research Center. Eight years ago, he said, he started looking for a UC Berkeley student to replace him. For example, the Council salary is in the bottom 1% of the starting salaries for the over 300 job categories listed by the city of Berkeley.
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