Category: Berkeley City Council

Report: Berkeley councilman, during traffic stop, suggested officer let him go because he voted in favor of police raise

Berkeley Councilmember Ben Bartlett, after being pulled over last July for running a red light, suggested to a Berkeley police officer that she give him preferential treatment because he had voted to give the city's police officers a raise recently during closed session negotiations with their union, Berkeleyside reported Thursday. Bartlett, who was a candidate … Continue reading Report: Berkeley councilman, during traffic stop, suggested officer let him go because he voted in favor of police raise →

Worthington will not seek re-election in Berkeley

Kriss Worthington, Berkeley's first gay member of the city council, announced Thursday that he will not seek re-election to his District 7 seat. He made the declaration on the steps of Berkeley City Hall. A day earlier on Facebook, Worthington framed the event in terms of "will he" or "won't he" run for re-election. Worthington … Continue reading Worthington will not seek re-election in Berkeley →

Assembly hopeful Ben Bartlett gets a boost from Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguín

Berkeley Councilmember Ben Bartlett andMayor Jesse Arreguin.PHOTO/Bartlett for Assembly15TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICTJust a month into Berkeley Councilmember Ben Bartlett's campaign for the 15th Assembly District, he has gained one of its plum endorsements, Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguín.“California needs leaders with the vision, courage and experience to tackle the challenges facing our state. Ben Bartlett is the … Continue reading Assembly hopeful Ben Bartlett gets a boost from Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguín →

Berkeley City Council backs use of pepper spray during protest

BERKELEY CITY COUNCILBerkeley is facing an unprecedented and highly-coordinated effort by extremists groups to repeatedly turn the city into a battle ground, Interim Berkeley Police Chief Andy Greenwood told the City Council Tuesday afternoon.With large plywood shields and rudimentary weapons used recently by protesters splayed on the city council chamber floor, an amendment to the … Continue reading Berkeley City Council backs use of pepper spray during protest →

Berkeley looks at decriminalizing display of female nipples

Berkeley CouncilmemberKriss WorthingtonBERKELEY CITY COUNCILAn inequity exists within Berkeley municipal nudity laws, says Councilmember Kriss Worthington, that criminalizes the display of women's breasts and, specifically, nipples while overlooking topless men in public.Worthington's proposal Tuesday evening would delete a reference to the public display of female areola in the city's municipal code. Violators could be subjected … Continue reading Berkeley looks at decriminalizing display of female nipples →

Berkeley councilman becomes ninth to file for Tony Thurmond’s open assembly seat

Berkeley Councilmember Ben Bartlett15TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICTThey're going to need a really big table for debates next year in the 15th Assembly District. First-term Berkeley Councilmember Ben Bartlett filed an intent to run Tuesday for the seat being vacated by current Assemblymember Tony Thurmond. Bartlett becomes the ninth candidate--all Democrats--to file for the June 2018 primary … Continue reading Berkeley councilman becomes ninth to file for Tony Thurmond’s open assembly seat →

Berkeley Mayor Arreguin comes out strong at state of city address

BERKELEY CITY COUNCILBerkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin delivers his first state of the city address Monday night at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre. PHOTOS/Zac GoldsteinBy Keegan Tatum and Zac GoldsteinThe sense in the room was, finally, someone said it. That mood endured for the entire State of the City address delivered by Berkeley’s new mayor, Jesse Arreguin.Throughout … Continue reading Berkeley Mayor Arreguin comes out strong at state of city address →

Kate Harrison wins Berkeley City Council special election

Kate Harrison leads Ben Gould by more than500 votes in Tuesday's special election.BERKELEY CITY COUNCILKate Harrison is cruising to victory in Tuesday night’s special election for the open Berkeley City Council District 4 seat.Early results from the Alameda County Registrar of Voters Tuesday night show Harrison leading Ben Gould by a 550-vote margin.The seat was … Continue reading Kate Harrison wins Berkeley City Council special election →

Hayward school district’s spring special election will cost $600k

Hayward school trustees Annette Walker andLisa Brunner during a press conference last year.Both voted to put a $88 parcel tax measure on the special election ballot this May.HAYWARD USDA Hayward school parcel tax that has generated more than $11 million since its passage four years ago is due to sunset at the end of June. But the … Continue reading Hayward school district’s spring special election will cost $600k →

EBCampaign NOTEBOOK – 2 days from ELECTION DAY IN THE BAY

16TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT –-- PARTY TIME --As opposed to two years ago when special interests on both sides of the ledger spent ungodly sums of Independent Expenditure Committee money, this year’s 16th Assembly District race has shifted to the party apparatus—especially the California Democratic Party. As of Sunday, Democrat Cheryl Cook-Kallio has benefited from $2 … Continue reading EBCampaign NOTEBOOK – 2 days from ELECTION DAY IN THE BAY →

‘Shake up’ in Berkeley mayor’s race: Bernie Sanders endorses Jesse Arreguin

Bernie Sanders puts his stamp on the Berkeleymayor's race this fall.BERKELEY | Former Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, the darling of progressives nationwide, is endorsing Jesse Arreguin for mayor of Berkeley.“Berkeley is known across the country and the world as a progressive, trailblazing city. And so Berkeley needs a truly progressive Mayor,” said Sanders. … Continue reading ‘Shake up’ in Berkeley mayor’s race: Bernie Sanders endorses Jesse Arreguin →

LISTEN: East Bay Citizen Podcast with Berkeley Councilman Jesse Arreguin

//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/4148923/height/300/width/450/theme/legacy/autoplay/no/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/backward/no-cache/true/Berkeley Councilmember Jesse ArreguinEPISODE 18 | The East Bay Citizen Podcast heads to one of this year's political hotspots--Berkeley--where Councilmember Jesse Arreguin is running for the city's open mayoral seat.Like almost every Bay Area city, the lack of affordable housing, is a big problem. Arreguin describes his ideas for filling the gap and his campaign … Continue reading LISTEN: East Bay Citizen Podcast with Berkeley Councilman Jesse Arreguin →

Berkeley Councilmember Arreguin to run for mayor

Berkeley Councilmember Jesse ArreguinBERKELEY | MAYOR | His Facebook page may have spilled the beans earlier this week, but Berkeley Councilmember Jesse Arreguin made it official Thursday--he's running for mayor.Arreguin, who represents District Four on the Berkeley City Council, says the city's growing affordability gap as the city's most pressing challenge.“We need a Berkeley that … Continue reading Berkeley Councilmember Arreguin to run for mayor →

Quan, The Mayor Who Cracked Down On Occupy Oakland, Praises Mandela

Nelson and Winnie Mandela at the Oakland Coliseum in 1990.OAKLAND | ANALYSIS | The death of former South African President Nelson Mandela Thursday had a inextricable East Bay link. The U.S. support for his anti-apartheid reforms first ruminated in the Berkeley City Council. Upon release after 27 years of imprisonment in 1990, one of his first international … Continue reading Quan, The Mayor Who Cracked Down On Occupy Oakland, Praises Mandela →

Did the California Dental Association Take A Bite Of Nancy Skinner?

BERKELEY CITY COUNCIL | Two great unknowns existed during the debate last month among Berkeley city council members over the use of mercury amalgam in tooth fillings. Are they really toxic to humans in such minute doses and how did special interest money pressure some council members and a statewide official to stop the city … Continue reading Did the California Dental Association Take A Bite Of Nancy Skinner? →