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When I was a little girl, my mom would stop traffic when ducks were crossing the road. No one else seemed to do such things then, but in time, I too became a crosser of ducklings, turtles, and a doer of deeds needing doing.  

Now, having lived in Berkeley for many years, I’m considering the problems of problem solving in our unique city. I understand too much to shrug and say, “You can’t change City Hall!” We must!  

To me our city’s “Powers that Be” are a lot like those small fishes that swim together pretending to be one big, rather intimidating fish. Amazingly they maintain form when changing direction, and move on, baffling all with their performance. But what if the leader makes a mistake?  

Wouldn’t it be great if little fishes of a different perspective, could warn of trouble, and not just helplessly go through motions?  

In Berkeley we have many solvable problems that are getting worse! Here are examples from the heart of our city. 

Our Downtown is filthy and dangerous. It needs to be sparkling clean and safe for all of us. We have the resources to clean it up and we have money for bike and walking cops who help keep the peace. But the BPD has been understaffed with shrinking numbers of sworn officers especially since Tom Bates became Mayor.  

A way to pay for public safety, besides the usual sources of general fund and grant monies, is with $2 million set aside for overtime (at time and a half.) This money should be used instead for hiring needed officers. Overtime means tired, easily stressed- officers, not what we need for a safe, peaceful and happy city!  

Our Mayor, whose slogan is “Berkeley at it’s Best!” walks to work through the downtown and sees how filthy, littered and scary it is there, but does not fix the problems. His brewing plans include “economic development,” Bus Rapid Transit, and Transportation Services Fees, which hurt business or discourage businesses we need. It seems that Bates and his associations are deliberately trying to destroy our historic downtown to actively promote redevelopment, transit villages, and highrises. 

We need satellite parking and a shopper shuttle for downtown. Our surface parking lots at Oxford/ Alston and Berkeley Way/ west of Shattuck belong to the city and are perfect for satellite parking. But the Mayor and current city council majority are using and planning development on these lots for their purposes. They tell us to walk or take a bus. As a biker, I know how disheartening it can be to bike/ walk/ bus downtown through polluted air and noise and how hard it is to carry items and children. Shopping and visiting would be fun on a shoppers’ shuttle. But the Mayor and company plans make Downtown noisier, filthier, and darker/colder. “Berkeley at it’s Best!” 

Another problem downtown is that the environment isn’t good for our High School student’s lunch. It is dangerous, with open drug use, and not enough bike and traffic cops. But the High School provides only 300 meals for 3,000 students!  

We could close the block of Allston Way to Civic Center Park during lunchtime. Favorite healthy foods could be delivered by local businesses and a fruit and healthy snack stand, smoothie-maker, healthy ice cream and frozen fruit/ yogurt bars be provided. The School District should have available for all students at reduced cost, a version of the O’Malley lunch, in a recent Berkeley Daily Planet Editorial-sandwich, fruit, milk, and a healthier dessert. Note, our teenagers are not given dessert at Berkeley High but research shows a little sugar is calming and helps concentration! 

Many enjoyable activities should be available for our youngsters at lunchtime. Workout in the YMCA, classes at Vista College that count toward a degree or job training, bike touring, jogging, and rollerblading on slow street and greenways, auto shop, mural painting and restoration, Curves workout/ with singing performance, etc. 

Folks may wonder why I write about Mayor Bates and not Linda Maio, our 14-year incumbent in District 1. The reason is that Linda is a facilitator for Bates and Linda was a friend of mine. She had been a wonderful friend. But it took about 10 years of bending her into form before BCA would allow her to run on their ticket for City Council. Even then they were all controlling and would sometimes threaten to run Boona Cheema, of BOSS (Berkeley-Oakland Support Systems) for Linda’s seat if she didn’t tow the Party line. I loved the old Linda before the bending process. 

BCA (Berkeley Citizens Action) has a chilling effect on democratic participation in other ways. A good example occurred when a prominent commissioner came to a Berkeley Independents meeting way back when, seeking endorsement for City Council. She was impressive, down to earth, but as we were about to vote the door opened and an activist named Pancoast rushed in. He said, “She lied to us, and she’ll lie to you!” He explained that the candidate had screened with BCA and their process included agreement that one not run for office unless chosen by BCA. Poor woman! What was done to her, and many others, is like pinning a live butterfly by a wing, to my thinking. It should be a violation of our democratic rights because it discourages candidates, and encourages a ruling political machine, power by few, and all that goes with that. 

My website, in progress, is merrilie.org.