Extra

As you have probably heard, UC Berkeley has begun the process of preparing People’s Park for the addition of student and homeless housing, as well as new park space and features celebrating People’s Park’s history. Sadly, given the protests and sometimes violent actions trying to block this project, the University has also had to take unusual and unfortunate measures to protect the site. With everything that’s going on, I wanted to offer you an update and share my thoughts.

First, I want to reiterate that I strongly support creating new housing and open space at People’s Park. Our city and UC Berkeley both desperately need housing to meet demand, lower rents, and prevent displacement, and Southside is an ideal location for it. In a perfect world, the current form of People’s Park could be a monument to Berkeley’s history, progressive movements, and ideals—but it has failed to fill that role for decades. Instead, the park has witnessed violent crime, lonely deaths, and, shockingly, children being drugged. Past efforts to make it function as a park that is safe and welcoming for all have been violently opposed by many of the same people now fighting against the new housing. It is in this context that the UC has been forced to take drastic measures just to allow for site preparation to move forward. Some opponents have pointed to the immense cost of securing the site as a reason to abandon housing at this location. But these costs only exist because a vocal and at times violent minority has decided that their views matter more than the will of the public. Housing opponents trying to impose their will by protesting and making the cost of housing too high is not democracy. Indeed, they are tactics used by housing opponents for decades.

It was just a couple of years ago that housing opponents proved that they were willing to violently storm the site and destroy equipment. This needless drama and the threat of a repeat are why the UC was compelled to act swiftly and on short notice to shield the site. This included restricting access to key roadways and towing private vehicles near the park. The UC has also been forced to construct a barrier made of shipping containers in order to protect workers and the new housing from those intent on vandalism and violence. I want to commend the UC for the care and foresight they put into their efforts to ready the area. With respect to towing, a hotline was set up, no one was ticketed or charged, all affected people were offered rides to their vehicles and $100 gift card for their trouble. I understand that those living and working around the site are unfortunately still facing great inconvenience when it comes to traveling to and from their homes and workplaces. I call on the UC and various law enforcement agencies charged with protecting the project to be accommodating and courteous in this regard. (If you experience any difficulties, please let my office and the UC know right away.)

With respect to law enforcement involvement, I have seen people express concerns regarding the number of officers and the potential for excessive force. But if we want to avoid the use of potentially problematic crowd control methods, we need a large contingent of officers who can engage in more targeted and tailored enforcement. When it comes to the Berkeley Police Department, I believe BPD has a strong track record and training when it comes to deescalation; but I also want to reiterate that the City takes a hard line against excessive force and any alleged instances will be investigated thoroughly and impartially. By the same token, I also condemn any violence or vandalism by protestors. I am firmly committed to the First Amendment and the right to protest; but that right does not extend to indefinite disruption of other people’s lives and certainly not to physical harm or destruction. Freedom of speech and the practice of civil disobedience are not carte blanche. A key part of nonviolent civil disobedience is accepting that one’s actions may result in arrest. Berkeley and the US have a proud history of civil disobedience, but I want to be crystal clear: I believe that building housing and a new People’s Park is the right thing to do and not something to resist.

Not only does the planned project include over 100 units of permanently affordable supportive housing, but the University also made an extraordinary effort to ensure that everyone who was previously staying at the Park found permanent housing. The social worker hired by the University, City homeless services staff, and local nonprofits have engaged in a tremendous effort to provide assistance, services, and shelter to every person who was previously using the park. I am proud of these efforts, and I think that they reflect the caring and community-minded approach that the City and the University have taken with respect to this project. I appreciate that there are some who will disagree, but I continue to proudly support this new student and homeless housing, and I hope it moves forward swiftly. I ask protestors to work with us to tackle our housing and homelessness challenges. And I hope the California Supreme Court will rule swiftly so that actual construction may begin.

I welcome and look forward to hearing your thoughts, even if we disagree. And please let us know if you need information or assistance regarding this stage of the project, which we hope will be concluded soon.