Proposed revisions to the Missing Middle report to be considered at the Berkeley City Council meeting on March 26, 2019

In the report on Missing Middle housing, we ask that the City Manager consider 1) the process by which other cities considered these type of changes and 2) for those that moved forward, how these changes were effectuated. Cities such as Houston, Chicago, Portland, and Minneapolis, among others, have undergone this process in a variety of ways and to varying degrees of success. Berkeley should learn from these cities to guarantee that any Missing Middle housing is built with equity as a key consideration.

The report warrants further examination of how fire impacts our zoning needs. Ingress and egress are critical issues citywide as fire has the potential to spread throughout the City extremely quickly in Berkeley,[1] especially as climate change makes fires stronger and faster. We ask that the report look at how other cities incorporated these concerns and disaster preparedness in all areas of their cities.

No zoning changes should exacerbate gentrification or displacement; it is especially important that the effects of past redlining not be compounded. Automatically excluding all high-fire zones will result in eliminating 70% of the R-1 and R-1A zoning[2] that could be considered for upzoning and result in increased pressure on the areas of the historic redline and in low-income areas. Much of the proposed rezoning aligns with the historic redline; if not done carefully, rezoning can lead to displacement through demolished housing stock and rising rents. San Francisco has recognized that it is losing affordable housing more quickly than it is constructing it. Berkeley is in an affordable housing crisis and must retain the affordable housing we already have. -more-

SB 50 is an unprecedented law that will destroy thousands of homes & apartments to build luxury housing up to 8 stories high. Are YOU in the SB 50 Demolition Derby?

SEARCH & SHARE this SB 50 Map. -more-

Attention Berkeley residents: Do you have one of those signs that says:

I'm sorry but your sign is no longer operative: you're going to have to change it to:

"No matter where you're from**, we're glad you're our neighbor.""We Believe... No Human is Illegal**..."

On Thursday, February 28th, 2019, the Berkeley City Council voted 6-3 to pass the first reading of one of the most inhumane ordinances it has ever taken up. It voted to condemn those residents of Berkeley who are homeless but in possession of an RV or car for their shelter and transportation needs to either banishment or sleeping in doorways. They did this by banning RVs from parking on city streets in the wee hours of the morning, from 2:00 AM to 5:00 AM (and yes, that includes YOUR RV if you happen to own one, are otherwise housed, and park it on the street). -more-

Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, recently announced that the U.S. will start denying visas to members of the ICC who may be investigating alleged war crimes by the U.S. military in Afghanistan. War hawk, John Bolton went further threatening U.S. sanctions against the judges. The ICC has accused the U.S. military of brutally torturing at least 61 prisoners in Afghanistan during the ongoing war, The report also leveled charges against the CIA accusing the agency of torture and rape in Afghanistan, and black sites in Poland, Romania, and Lithuania. -more-

Just when it appears that Donald Trump's behavior cannot get any worse, it plunges to a new low. The week of March 11 brought a fresh batch of Trump outrage. For those of us suffering from Traumatic Trump Disorder, it's time to take new action to protect our mental health.

Most of us have had the experience of being in an abusive relationship. For example, a persistent problem with a toxic family member; or a romantic relationship that turns sour; or a sadistic boss or teacher. An abusive relationship weights on us, bring us down; it can produce depression, anxiety, a general feeling of powerlessness, irritability, as well as physical symptoms, such as insomnia. That's what's happening for those of us who are not Trump acolytes (roughly 57 percent of the electorate). We can't avoid Trump's malignancy; his abusive behavior is in our faces day after day, causing the political equivalent of PTSD -- Traumatic Trump Disorder. -more-

Editor's Note: We are following the example of Al Jazeera in no longer printing the names of mass murderers. -more-

Medication is presumed to be a non-negotiable necessity for people with schizophrenia. The disease is considered biologically-based. Medication, much of the time, treats the worst of the symptoms by introducing a new abnormality to counter the devastating abnormality created by the illness. People with schizophrenia are thought to have excessive dopamine in an area of the brain, and this is believed to cause improper gating of thoughts. -more-

Don't miss the cardboard turntable[1], the robot that speaks, or the Memorial Toilet[2] surrounded by flowers, candles, and remembrance cards. Don't miss the ethereal watercolors by one of Berkeley's most articulate advocates for more humane housing policy[3], the playful retrieved metal sculptures[4], or the subtle printed sheets almost obscured by garden leaves[5]. -more-

Reprising Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, which they last performed locally in 2015, American Bach Soloists presented this monumental work throughout the Bay Area over the weekend of March 22-25. I caught the Saturday evening performance at Berkeley’s First Congregational Church. The cast featured many of the same singers from the 2015 performances. Baritone William Sharp again sang the role of Christ (Christus in German), and both soprano Hélène Brunet and mezzo-soprano Agnes Vojtko repeated their roles from 2015. Once again, the orchestral forces were divided into two groups, as were the choruses, thereby highlighting the many antiphonal passages in Bach’s score. -more-

Sunday, March 24, 2019

No City meetings found – City Sponsored John Lee Invitation Co-Rec Softball Tournament

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/CalendarEventMain.aspx?calendarEventID=15733

Monday, March 25, 2019

City Council Policy Committee Health, Life Enrichment, Equity and Community, 10 am, at 2180 Milvia, Redwood Room, Agenda: 3. Brown act, 5. Ban Racial Discrimination on the Basis of Hairstyle

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/Home/Policy_Committee__Health,_Life_Enrichment,_Equity___Community.aspx

Ad Hoc subcommittee on Paid Family Leave, 1 pm, at 2180 Milvia, Cypress Room, Agenda: C. Paid Family Leave Proposal

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/paidfamilyleavesubcommittee/

Housing Advisory Commission – Housing Trust Fund Subcommittee, 5:15 pm at 2939 Ellis St, South Berkeley Senior Center, Agenda: 4. Operating Funds for Community Housing Development Organization

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Housing_Advisory_Commission/

Landmarks Preservation Commission - Subcommittee, 3 – 4 pm at 1200 Euclid, Berkeley Rose Garden, Scott Ferris discusses newest design for Rose Garden and pending ADA accessibility improvements

http://www.cityofberkeley.info/landmarkspreservationcommission/ -more-