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DBA Annual Meeting Celebrates Ambassador Program in Downtown Berkeley

Carol Denney
Friday April 17, 2015 - 10:58:00 AM
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Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates and Downtown Berkeley Association Chief Executive Officer John Caner chortle as they present a commemorative caricature to departing DBA President Susan Medak of the Berkeley Repertory Theater at the DBA's annual meeting.
Carol Denney
Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates and Downtown Berkeley Association Chief Executive Officer John Caner chortle as they present a commemorative caricature to departing DBA President Susan Medak of the Berkeley Repertory Theater at the DBA's annual meeting.

The Downtown Berkeley Association's (DBA) annual meeting at the David Brower Center kept its Block by Block "ambassador" program center stage despite a viral video showing two of the program's ambassadors assaulting two homeless men.

One of the ambassadors was immediately fired after the video's distribution, but the other is on suspension and apparently welcome to rejoin the program, whose members were introduced individually and applauded by the small group attending the meeting. 

DBA Chief Executive Officer John Caner cited sixteen new businesses as proof that the revitalization of Berkeley's downtown was on schedule. He admitted that December's "Black Lives Matter" protests and police action had taken a toll on the holiday season, but stated "hopefully that is behind us now." 

Mayor Tom Bates offered a similarly enthusiastic assessment of changes to come downtown, noting a BART Plaza re-design and a change on Shattuck to two-way traffic. 

The Block by Block "ambassador" program has come under fire by the Peace and Justice Commission which has recommended its termination.