Wildfire Safety, Homeless Count, and More Berkeley News
Mayor's Priorities Reflect Community Input
With Council back in session for the fall, we are busy at work introducing and implementing policies to move Berkeley forward. Even when Council was on its summer recess, I was hearing from the community to get ideas on how to address the challenges and opportunities facing our city. To highlight some of the work we are doing, I recently wrote an op-ed in Berkeleyside to discuss ten of the priorities my office will be working on over the next six months and beyond.
Much of the work addresses our current housing and homeless crisis. We are moving forward on the promise of Measures O & P, entering the next phase of developing the North Berkeley and Ashby BART sites, finalizing the Adeline Corridor Plan, and developing new programs such as a Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act.
Safety is being prioritized by accelerating efforts on Vision Zero to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety, advancing work to protect our city against wildfires, and improving community policing. We are also designing a more resilient future through our Vision 2050 plan to upgrade our infrastructure, address the impacts of climate change while also revitalizing our treasured marina and waterfront. Promotion of worker cooperatives will build on our efforts to help our small businesses..
Of course, there is much more to do and we are constantly seeking public input. These plans, among many others, are the work of a collaborative effort between all of our city councilmembers, city staff and community.
Lessons Learned from the Public Safety Power Shutoff
Last week was met with frustration from many residents across Northern California as PG&E did its first major Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) event. Conflicting or inaccurate information, website failures, and a lack of resources created difficulties to respond to what for some people was a potentially life-threatening situation. While several small fires did ignite throughout the Bay Area during the Red Flag warning, no structures were damaged.
With just 48 hours to respond after the initial announcement of a PSPS, the City worked quickly and diligently in launching an Emergency Operations Center to handle the situation. This included adding additional first responders to patrol the hills during the PSPS. City Staff identified and worked with those with medical conditions who were at risk due to an extended power outage in providing them assistance. In total, 123 city employees worked around the clock to ensure the safety and security of residents like you.
This event provided a case study to demonstrate our emergency response capabilities, and we will be reviewing what went right and what went wrong in the coming days and weeks to continuously improve our service to the community in the event of emergencies. What is clear is that we must work towards energy independence, such as the creation of microgrids, so that we can become resilient and sustainable. Vision 2050 is currently working on long-term solutions for our energy needs so we can continue to have power even when PG&E leaves us in the dark.
Applicants Wanted for Berkeley Commissions
The City of Berkeley has over 35 citizen-run commissions, consisting of over 350 members that serve as advisors to the Council, providing recommendations on policies and priorities. They play an essential role in Berkeley’s robust democratic process.
In most cases, Commissions have nine members, with each Councilmember and the Mayor appointing a member to the commission. The Mayor’s Office has the following commission vacancies:
Children, Youth, and Recreation
Human Welfare & Community Action
There are some exceptions to the makeup of commissions. For example, the Mental Health Commission has 13 members instead of nine, with its members appointed by the Council as a whole rather than selected by individual councilmembers. That Commission currently has multiple vacancies, but the positions require applicants to meet additional criteria. Click here for more info on the Mental Health Commission.
For a full list of vacancies of all Councilmembers, click here. If you are interested in applying to be the Mayor’s appointee, fill out the application and reply to this email with the application attached. If you would like to apply for a vacant position in a Councilmember office, you can contact that office via email for consideration. Please note that you do not have to live in the district of the Councilmember to apply, but in almost all cases, you must be a Berkeley resident.
Homeless Count Shows Efforts to Address Homelessness is Working
The Berkeley numbers for the 2019 point-in-time homeless count was released last month, showing that Berkeley’s 14% increase in homelessness is three times smaller than the countywide average of 43%. While any increase is unacceptable, the numbers show that our investment to end homelessness over the past two years is beginning to make a difference for those living on our streets. The opening of the STAIR Center, the East Bay’s first Navigation Center, has resulted in over 100 individuals being permanently housed. The passage of Measure P in 2018 has given us millions of additional dollars to address the crisis of unsheltered homelessness. We are continuing to advance policies that increase homeless services, with a focus on a Housing First approach. We expect in the coming years an acceleration in the number of homeless people getting housed as we expand regional and statewide efforts to address our homeless crisis.
Taking a deeper dive into the numbers provide intriguing findings. For example, the number of people who reported experiencing homelessness for the first time decreased by 36%. This is a testament to our increased focus on stemming the tide of homelessness by investing in anti-displacement measures. However, chronic homelessness (someone who has experienced homelessness for over a year, or at least four episodes of homelessness totaling at least 12 months over the last three years) has increased by 48%. This is due to the significant time it can take to find permanent housing for those on the street, as a result of the significant lack of affordable housing stock. New state and local resources including Measure O, will provide millions of dollars in funding to build and preserve much needed affordable housing. Additionally, the data shows that the number of homeless with zero shelter (on the street without a tent) has decreased by 32%, showing successful signs of the outreach in helping out the most vulnerable of the homeless population.
Read my blog for a more comprehensive analysis of the data.
City Launches Daytime Mental Health Crisis Line
As part of our commitment to further expand mental health programs, the Mental Health Division has launched a new daytime mental health crisis line. The number, 510-981-5244, can be reached Monday-Friday, 11:30am-4:00pm. The phone is staffed by trained counselors who will be available to talk directly to you, connect you to the right resources, and determine if an immediate in-person evaluation for safety is needed. The goal of this pilot program is to provide better support to individuals with mental health concerns and provide early intervention which in turn will reduce the number of mental health calls to the Police Department. Click here for more information on the new line and other mental health services the City provides.
Alta Bates Potential Closure: "Lives Will Be Lost"
The battle to save the Birthplace of the East Bay continues, with neighboring mayors Rochelle Nason (Albany) and Rochelle Pardue-Okimoto (El Cerrito) sounding the alarm on the impacts of a potential closure. As reported by the East Bay Times, the mayors warned of devastating impacts at a meeting with seniors earlier this month. This is based off the 2018 Health Impact Assessment, initiated by the Alta Bates Task Force convened by my office, which states that a closure of the hospital would result in increased wait and travel times, reduced access to pregnancy and birthing care, and a more difficult response to emergencies like earthquakes and fires, all of which would disproportionately impact low income households and people of color.
Despite agreeing to keep the hospital indefinitely open after merging with Summit in 1999, three years ago Sutter announced its intention to close the hospital by 2030. In response, I established the Alta Bates Task Force shortly after being elected, bringing together local and regional elected officials and health experts to look at ways to ensure that we keep a full service hospital in Berkeley. As we weigh those options, the Task Force will be working on community outreach across the I-80 corridor in the months to come.
Prioritizing Wildfire Safety
As exemplified by last week’s PSPS event as described above, we are in the most dangerous months of the expanding fire season in California. During the months of September through November, 17 of the 20 most destructive California wildfires have occurred. With climate change causing increased wildfire danger, this year we have made extensive efforts to reduce the risks and improve emergency services. Over the next two years, we are investing $180,000 in disaster response training and equipment and over $233,000 in vegetation management on city properties. City Council will also be considering an investment of $1.1 million for an outdoor emergency warning system in this November’s budget update. Most recently, Council approved a Resolution declaring wildfire prevention and safety a top priority for the City.
Earlier this month, I joined Vice Mayor Susan Wengraf in penning an op-ed on what we are doing to address wildfire safety and what the community can do to prepare. Two of the 20 most destructive California wildfires took place in our City; the 1923 Berkeley fire that destroyed the La Loma Park and Northside neighborhoods and the 1991 Oakland Hills Firestorm that also impacted southeast Berkeley. While the city and the state work diligently to reduce the threat of wildfires, the risk can never be eliminated. Our neighboring cities, our universities and schools and our residents all need to work together to be prepared in the event of a catastrophic wildfire.
Solano Stroll Provides Opportunity for Community Engagement
The 45th annual Solano Stroll was marked by another picturesque day, with 210,000 people attending. This backdrop provided a great opportunity to engage with constituents and get a better understanding of the pulse of the community. Some of the frequently discussed topics included the future of development at the North Berkeley BART, addressing the homeless crisis, dealing with trash/illegal dumping (especially around the freeway), infrastructure and street improvements, pedestrian/bicyclist safety, and wildfire safety. The parade featured the Alta Bates Stroller Brigade, raising awareness of the possible closure of the only full service acute care hospital between Richmond and North Oakland.
Summer of Paving Addresses Most Egregious Street
Six months ago, our office was flooded with calls and emails regarding the status of Sixth Street, which gained a reputation of being the worst road in Berkeley. Today, that street is one of 6.6 miles of streets that have been repaved over the summer, bringing much needed relief to commuters, whether you drive, bus, or bike. This is part of our larger commitment to improve our aging infrastructure, with a focus on multimodal transportation.
Over the coming years, more high-profile streets such as University Avenue at the Marina will be repaved, with over 20 miles of road to be repaved by 2023. We also recognize that, along with other jurisdictions, we will be facing challenges in the coming years as the cost of maintaining roads continues to rise. Approval of the next five year paving plan will take place in November.
Berkeley Receives Award for Promoting Senior Livability
Older adults are at the heart of our community and a vital part of the fabric of our neighborhoods and civic life. Over the past three years, the City has been engaged with community stakeholders and senior residents in the development of an Age Friendly Action Plan, a part of Berkeley’s Age-Friendly Continuum. The plan, which was released in March of this year, has received the Innovation Award from the Scan Foundation in partnership with the Milken Institute Center for the Future of Aging. The criteria for the award focuses on age-forward economic development, redesigning the urban landscape for all ages, and resilient networks for healthy aging. This plan demonstrates our commitment to a livable community where all generations are included and are able to thrive.
Upcoming Meetings and Events
Affordable Housing Framework Discussion
Saturday, October 19, 10am-12pm
Harriet Tubman Terrace Community Room, 2870 Adeline St
Learn about the proposed Affordable Housing Framework and what we are doing to address recent bonds to address housing affordability and homelessness (Measures U1, O & P). I will be joined by several Councilmembers and community members as we discuss these plans and answer your questions.
City of Berkeley Open House
Sunday, October 20, 11am-3pm
Civic Center Park, 2151 MLK Jr Way
The City of Berkeley is hosting an open house for community members to learn about the daily functions of city activities. Representatives from various departments, including Parks and Recreation, Public Works, Fire, Police, City Manager, Health Housing and Community Services, and Energy and Sustainable Development will be tabling and will provide information on various city services.
Office Hours
Saturday, November 2, 2pm-4pm
Romeo's Coffee, 2499 Telegraph Ave
Please join me and Councilmember Rigel Robinson for a coffee chat. Come by anytime between 2pm-4pm to share your thoughts, grab a drink, or even just say hello.