‘No Kings Day’ march and other upcoming resistance events around Berkeley
Three events are planned in Berkeley and another big march is set for Oakland during the next No Kings Day mobilization on March 28.
Ngozi Anyanwu’s ‘The Monsters’ at Berkeley Rep is a love letter to fighting as sport
The playwright and actor says the jumping-off point for her new play was observing her brother striking and grappling with others in his mixed-martial-arts community.
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editors’ picks
City
‘First lady’ of Iranian film to speak in Berkeley during BAMPFA series
Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive is hosting a two-month series of Iranian films, offering a layered look at life in the country with a focus on the stories of women.
13K immigrant truck drivers lose California licenses
The DMV’s decision follows a new federal rule that limits immigrants’ license eligibility to a much narrower set of legal statuses.
Two Berkeley affordable housing projects get $15M from county
The money from Alameda County’s Measure W will help fund supportive housing at People’s Park and affordable homes on a South Berkeley church’s property.
Plans to rezone wealthy Berkeley neighborhoods for more housing are scaled back after uproar
The proposal to allow taller development on College, Solano and North Shattuck avenues has faced opposition from merchants and residents, who fear new development could push out small businesses.
Crime & safety
Berkeley cuts pepper spray reporting requirements for police
The City Council vote, rescinding a nearly three-decade-old directive, comes amidst broader changes to BPD’s access to surveillance technology and other hardware.
schools
Berkeley teachers approve contract giving 3% yearly raise
The Berkeley Federation of Teachers said the new 2-year agreement pushes BUSD as far as it can go on pay and benefits without causing a “fiscal emergency.” The school board is expected to review and sign off later in March.
Housing & Development
Berkeley City Council approves housing developments that sidestep labor standards
Construction unions had asked Berkeley leaders to shoot down developers’ attempts to exempt themselves from local labor regulations, but council members said they didn’t have that power.
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ARTS
‘Country’ Joe McDonald, ’60s rock star, counterculture icon, dies in Berkeley at 84
The musician’s “I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-To-Die Rag” was a four-lettered rebuke to the Vietnam War that became an anthem for protesters. He had lived in Berkeley since 1965.
Business
Park district agrees to many Tilden steam train demands but dispute chugs on
The popular attraction’s future at the park is still uncertain, but the Redwood Valley Railway and East Bay Regional Park District may be getting closer to an agreement.
Community
These 9 Berkeley women changed history but you may not know their stories
They saved the Bay, brought subsidized child care to the working class, and fought for the civil rights of disabled, Black and trans people. A new book celebrates dozens of “unsung” Bay Area heroines.
Nature
The Bay Area’s most-fined air polluters: Explore 10 years of environmental violations
We scoured Bay Area Air District records to find out who the worst violators are.
The Wire: UC Berkeley sees increase in freshman, transfer applicants
Also: Companies in Cal’s startup incubator Bakar Labs have raised $1 billion since it launched four years ago.
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Opinion
Many Berkeley teachers spend over $500 of their own money on student basics. That’s just wrong
Tissues, books, shoes, snacks and maxi pads. A BUSD teacher surveyed 42 colleagues and found half spend more than $500 a year on everything from basic hygiene supplies to prom tickets.
Berkeley is defying the will of voters to hold police accountable
The resignation last month of two members of the city’s civilian police oversight board should alarm everyone in Berkeley.
Opinion: Berkeley should rethink rule requiring 26-foot clearance for fire trucks on city streets
Selective enforcement of an optional state fire code rule has harmed street fairs and farmers markets. If applied uniformly, many streets would lose half their parking. A policy better tailored to Berkeley’s narrow roads is needed.
Opinion: Flock can’t be trusted not to share Berkeley’s surveillance camera data with Trump and ICE
Contracting with Flock is incredibly risky for the safety and security of Berkeley’s residents and completely goes against its commitments as a sanctuary city.
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