A Unified Vision
On Thursday June 2, the people of Berkeley came together and made change happen. Over the past few months, thousands of Berkeleyans have engaged in dialogue and debate. Now that we’ve found our voices, we have more opportunities to effect meaningful change in our city.
The special meeting of the Berkeley City Council was the culmination of a years-long planning process and a months-long battle that determined the building density for the Ashby and North Berkeley BART stations. Not only were the desires of longtime and displaced Berkeleyans centered, a blueprint was created for how to bring our community together and make change.
For years, the city’s planning department led a multi-phase process and community engagement campaign to determine the building density best suited for the BART sites. In April, at a planning commission meeting, the city’s planning department presented their findings and recommended a maximum of 7 stories be built. With two last minute substitute commissioners voting in the majority, the planning commission ignored the staff’s recommendation and voted to recommend 12 stories at the BART sites. That’s when the sleeping giant awoke!
Many Berkeleyans who have been active in various efforts — along with many others who had never participated in any local activism — came together. The Friends of Adeline started the first petition drive gathering signatures in South Berkeley to oppose 12 story, market-rate buildings on BART sites. This quickly led to other petition drives by the North Berkeley Neighborhood Alliance. Finally, Neighbors Not Towers started an online petition pledging support for city council members who voted for 7 stories. Even though some community members were divided about the outcome, most were united in their concern about the affordable housing crisis, inclusivity and the climate emergency. On June 2, the City Council unanimously voted for 7 stories.
We have an opportunity to harness the eruption and momentum of civic action that has been cultivated over these past weeks. Let’s focus that energy towards ensuring 100% affordable units are built at the BART sites along with other community sustaining efforts, such as funding a People’s Budget and saving People’s Park.
The People’s Budget is being created by a growing group of Berkeleyans, organizations and faith-based communities to ensure that our city’s budget reflects our community’s values. These values include anti-racism, public safety, affordable housing for all and universal access to education, healthcare and jobs. The People’s Budget envisions, as did the city council in July 2020, a reduction of the footprint of police in our community and an expansion of community-based services proven to increase public safety.
The city of Berkeley’s biennial budget process is underway. The City Manager’s proposed draft budget misses the mark — too much money allocated to growing the city manager’s office and the police department and too little going to support a thriving community. For more on the People’s Budget and how to get involved, email BerkeleyPeoplesBudget2022@gmail.com.
Finally, by the time you read this, the marginalized people who have been living at People’s Park — many who have not been offered an alternate place to live — may have already been brutally displaced by the University of California Police Department. People’s Park is now a historical landmark and must be preserved as one of the few open spaces in our city. To join the movement to save People’s Park, go to www.peoplespark.org.
When we come together as a community with a unified vision, everything is possible!
This article was first published in the Berkeley Times on June 9, 2022.
