Features

Thanks to the Daily Planet, it has now become an open secret that Tom Bates is extending his heavy hand to thwart the efforts of the Berkeley Unified School District to begin construction of the transportation facility that was to be located on Sixth and Gilman streets. (A faded poster containing the formal legal announcement of the district’s plans for the project is still affixed to the anchor fence on the site.) 

Instead, under pressure from Bates, the district now wants to locate its motor pool vehicles including heavy equipment, and its central kitchen facility in a residential neighborhood on the West Campus next to a community swimming pool. 

In addition to the practical, social and ethical issues raised by these machinations, there are serious legal issues surrounding the disposition and use of land purchased with bond issue monies—land that legally belongs, not to the district, nor to the City of Berkeley, but to the citizens of the state of California. It appears  

that no one has raised these issues with the mayor or the district—at least not until now. 

West Berkeley has little open space and few recreational facilities. Many west campus neighbors, including the private schools, head start facilities and Berkeley Youth Alternatives, are concerned about the adverse impact on the seniors and children who use the pool and gymnasium if the district converts the West Campus site to the light industrial uses now proposed. (The West Campus out door pool is supposed to remain, but residents are concerned about the environmental impact on it of the proposed uses. To date the district has failed to conduct or agree to conduct an environmental impact study in connection with its proposed plan.) 

For undisclosed reasons, the district is determined to push through its plan in record time (less than six months), despite the recommendations of its legally appointed Construction Advisory Committee that the process should take at least 18 months. 

The Gilman-West Campus switcheroo also involves possible misapplication of funds intended by tax payers for school safety, not administrative upgrades, circumvention of environmental regulations and state laws governing the use of district property not required for district uses. These issues too, seem to have been glossed over—at least until now. However, West Campus neighbors are digging in for a fight, including legal battles, if necessary. 

Ruchama Burrell is a Berkeley resident.  

E