Public Comment
Current Issues of Concern for Berkeley
How best to encourage mask wearing in Berkeley?
At our council meeting next Tuesday, the city will consider allowing staff to issue fines for people who refuse to wear masks in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. There would be exceptions for those that have documented medical reasons for not wearing them and provisions for waiving the fines for those with financial hardships. This is based on an order from Berkeley’s Health Officer and it would be primarily enforced by Code Enforcement staff.
Over and over again we have seen evidence that wearing masks is one of the best ways to curb the spread of COVID-19. But are fines the best way to encourage our residents to adopt good mask practices on a large scale?
I believe that fines can help but only if they are part of a comprehensive, sound policy. They should be a last resort after a combination of educating the public, distributing masks, offering people a chance to comply with law, and issuing written warnings. I also believe that we should use any money collected through fines to purchase more masks for those who may not be able to afford them.
But I want to hear from readers: how should we encourage more people to wear their masks?
Bike patrols will begin soon.
Berkeley Police Department is expected to begin downtown patrols by bike beginning in the next few weeks. BPD has trained officers and secured the necessary bikes and will be conducting regular patrols of Downtown Berkeley soon.
I have been an advocate for Downtown Berkeley bike patrols since before taking office and proposed legislation requesting these in my first year so I am glad to see them becoming a reality. I am looking forward to the benefit that this will provide for residents of District 4 as well as our downtown merchants, some of whom have suffered an uptick in vandalism since shelter-in-place began.
Pools open Monday by reservation
Berkeley residents age 16 or older can now reserve a 45-minute block of time to swim next week at City of Berkeley pools, which will re-open to the public on Monday, September 14. The City is using these appointment times, along with new capacity limits and wellness checks, to lower risk of COVID-19 infection.
Sign-ups will be done a week at a time, following the same schedule. Berkeley residents get first priority, starting each Wednesday for the following week. Reservations for non-residents will open on Fridays. You can make an appointment online or call (510) 981-5150 to sign up by phone.
Drive-in Covid tests
The City of Berkeley continues to open new testing facilities to ensure readily available testing to our residents.
Instructions from the Berkeley Drive-in Testing Site:
You can now be tested for COVID-19 at a drive-through, self-administered test site established by the City of Berkeley near the North Berkeley BART Station parking lot. The process is simple and you don’t have to get out of your car. You drive up to the site, roll down the window to get a lab kit from clinic staff, roll up your window to swab your own mouth, and then drop the completed kit with another staff member farther away. It will be open from 9am to 3pm every day, weekends included, for the next three weeks.
Walk-up testing is also available at the MLK Jr. Youth Services Center at 1730 Oregon St. You must make an appointment first, either online or by calling (888) 634-1123. Visit the City of Berkeley’s website for more resources about how and where you can be tested.
Apply for Redistricting Commission
The Independent Redistricting Commission is launching recruitment efforts for the planned redistricting this fall. “Redistricting” is the act of redrawing or adjusting electoral district boundaries to ensure that districts are balanced with the same number of residents. The City of Berkeley redistricts every 10 years and 2020 is the next round. This is done by a commission of Berkeley residents and anyone over the age of 18 may apply.
If you are interested in serving on the Commission, read through the City’s website. Applications are due by October 9th. For questions, email the City Clerk Department at redistricting@cityofberkeley.
