Seven months after a People’s Park tree-sitter was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, the park has once again become home to a tree-sit, this time in response to what the tree-sitter called an urgent situation for Berkeley’s homeless people.
A sometimes Berkeley resident who goes by the name of Moonshato climbed into a tree at the park near the intersection of Haste and Bowditch streets at about 11 p.m. Sunday night under the direction of Zachary RunningWolf, a local activist and homeless advocate, and said he plans to stay posted in the tree for at least a week.
RunningWolf said the tree-sit is partly in protest to a proposal by the Telegraph Business Improvement District that suggests UC Berkeley ban unlicensed events in the park — which RunningWolf said could keep the group Food Not Bombs out of the park. He added that tree-sitters are protesting alleged attempts by the campus, which has jurisdiction over the park, to remove trees in order to facilitate construction on Ohlone burial ground.
Roland Peterson, executive director for the district, said the policy Runningwolf is referring to does not explicitly mention Food Not Bombs, a group that brings food for the park’s homeless five days a week. He added that even beyond Berkeley, Food Not Bombs has historically worked without permits and does not comply with health and safety requirements.
Helen Finkelstein, who works with the group in the East Bay, said it does not support the business district’s proposal.
RunningWolf said the protest’s timing was meant to involve students, who have recently returned to campus, in the discussion about the park.
A similar tree-sit at the park that began in November ended when tree-sitter Matthew Dodt, also known as Midnight Matt, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. Dodt’s 89-day tree-sit, which was also organized by RunningWolf, began in protest of suggested changes to the park as part of Willard Neighborhood Association President George Beier’s Berkeley City Council campaign last fall.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtUzt55A088&w=420&h=345]
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Take the protests out of Berkeley and whaddya get? Topeka, KS. Probably a nice place to go to die, but otherwise, not so much.
You live in one of the most unique places in the country; loaded with modern history unlike any other. Time to start acting like it and it is called social conscience. You stand on the shoulders of those who came before you and, yes, WE had it and we gave freely of ourselves so YOU could enjoy the kind of school and community that you do.
What you have in the way of lifestyle and community is what WE gave you; what future generations will have is what you give THEM. So what’s it going to be? Topeka, KS and Red State morality OR that which has made Berkeley unique — and great — for generations?
Berkeley is also a major intellectual center. Sitting in trees is stupid.
The Telegraph Business Improvement District suggestion that unlicensed events be banned in People’s Park certainly goes against what the creation of People’s Park intended for the space. It was a huge battle back in ’69. If Berkeley was a major intellectual center it wouldn’t be trying to control every little detail of living.
So trying to prevent drug dealing and mugging on Southside is “trying to control every little detail of living.” Interesting.
False dichotomy, Rufus. The choice doesn’t have to be Berkeley-as-shithole or Berkeley-as-Topeka. There are all kinds of points on that continuum.
I suspect your nostalgia for the time when “people really CARED, man” is coloring your ability to see this issue clearly.
The sooner UC puts this plot of land to productive use the better. It’s time to retire People’s Park, pandering to this generation of “homeless” kids is a waste of everybody’s time and does nothing to advance the legacy – if there is any.
Pave the Park!
“It’s time to retire People’s Park”
Note that the University did not establish People’s Park. It is held by a group of activists who threaten violence whenever the University proposes a sensible use for the property.
So there’s a native American burial ground in People’s park, just like under the football stadium ?
Those Ohlone sure were remarkably prescient to build cemeteries in exactly the places that there would be land use controversies centuries in the future.
Is Moonshato (-shadow? -chateau?) the only person left in Berkeley who takes Zachary Pooping Wolf seriously anymore?
Just cut down the tree and throw this attention-starved idiot in jail for a few days. Problem solved.
Throw him in jail on what charge? Is it illegal to sit in a tree? Cite the law.
It is his property? If not, he’s trespassing, and if any law enforcement official tells him to leave and he refuses, then he can be arrested. Trespassing and failure to obey a lawful order by a sworn peace officer are both criminal offenses.
The police could only act if the property owner filed a complaint against him. People’s Park is not City property. The people who are allowed to reside there can sit on the ground or in the trees.
No charges, just beat him with a stick because he’s a turd. We need to stop coddling these street punks and piss-stained bums. I’m tired of stepping over feces and pinching my nose because these lowlifes treat the entire southside area as a toilet.
“plans to stay posted in the tree for at least a week”
And how exactly does that resolve issues about appropriate activities in the park? This guy apparently has the mentality of a squirrel.
What the hell do you have against squirrels?