Mayor Tom Bates found himself on the defensive Wednesday as he weathered criticism from opposing candidates at the first mayoral forum of the election season.
The forum, held by the Berkeley/East Bay Gray Panthers, received a turnout of more than 100 senior citizens, with five of six mayoral candidates — excluding Bernt Wahl — answering questions and debating about affordable housing, transportation, economic development and the controversial ballot measures S and T.
Throughout the discussion of key issues concerning senior citizens, Bates found himself at odds with Councilmember Kriss Worthington, Jacquelyn McCormick, Zachary RunningWolf and Kahlil Jacobs-Fantauzzi — who all heavily criticized the mayor’s 10-year performance.
Worthington attacked the mayor for making public comment at council meetings too difficult for the elderly. Furthermore, he said the mayor is too “prodevelopment” and failed to appoint enough minorities to city commissions — something he hopes to rectify, he said.
“It’s time for a mayor who thinks senior citizens should be allowed to come to City Council meetings and not be disrespected,” Worthington said. “It’s time for a new mayor.”
Bates, who was first elected in 2002, touted his accomplishments as mayor in defense — citing Berkeley’s efforts at tackling climate change and providing more jobs in the city — while also acknowledging there is still much left to be done.
“When I came in, the economy went in the tank, and we had to scramble to keep it going,” Bates said. “It hasn’t been all downhill.”
Teacher and UC Berkeley alumnus Jacobs-Fantauzzi, however, criticized Bates for being in office for too long.
“One of the things I would institute is term limits,” Jacobs-Fantauzzi said. “Why do we not have something that says, ‘Hey, you don’t need to be mayor for 15 years’?”
As the conversation turned more to the controversial measures S and T, slated for the November ballot, Bates once again found himself on the defensive against the other candidates.
Jacobs-Fantauzzi, McCormick, RunningWolf and Worthington opposed both Measure S, which would prohibit sitting in commercial sidewalks, and Measure T, which aims to increase “development flexibility” in the West Berkeley region.
“This is selective enforcement,” Runningwolf said regarding Measure S. “We do live in a racist culture.”
McCormick said it was unfair to allow a group of people to sit outside the Cheese Board Collective, whereas a different group of people would not be allowed to sit outside businesses in Downtown Berkeley.
Bates remained the lone voice of support for both ballot measures, taking a probusiness stance on the issues. He emphasized the need to support the small businesses in Berkeley that suffer from people loitering around the area as well as the economic benefits that could result from Measure T.
At about 3 p.m., Bates left the forum early to attend other meetings and gave his closing statement about improving school attendance, tackling climate change and providing jobs.
Berkeley resident Gordon Wright praised the forum for its openness and said he felt many of the newer candidates’ statements resonated with him.
“A whole bunch of people seemed to have pretty good energy — almost everybody except for Mayor Bates,” Wright said. “I think he’s been here too long.”
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For this fairly short time resident, these elections are interesting. You would think that the horrible condition of the streets and so many neighborhoods would make the residents a bit more pro-business. Maybe recognize that some tax money would do the city good. But I guess that is the trade off. Accept some squalor so you can live your full liberal potential. Of course, I have noticed that the wealthy neighborhoods have great streets, and are very clean. So Berkeley knows how to take care of its privileged.
Sept. 27th 2012 Having been to many forums such as this one I was proud of the sponsors for organizing it well and for seeing it through to be able to allow for equal time, an ability to show the candidates in a true light and great social decorum.
Yesterday at the Mayoral Debate in Berkeley the best energy on the stage by far was clearly with Chris Worthington and Jacqueline McCormick, though Fantauzzi came in late, he quickly rose to third place. These were the candidates that spoke most clearly and with the best focus on purpose and integrity, not to mention they connected well with the audience. Clearly, Worthington seems to have the best preparation, experience and breadth of vision along with seemingly stellar integrity (I heard that word “integrity”, about Chris Worthington, directly from the mouths of many I sat near in the audience). The forthright and sincere qualities in the communication styles and issue sensitivities of McCormick and Fantauzzi are what I’d call ” a breath of fresh air” and I feel we would do well in Berkeley to take them quite seriously. Mr. Runningwolf made some cogent points it is true… but I cannot get over his tweaky appearance. I probably could get over the way he comes off up there if his default mode didn’t seem so polarized and combative. He didn’t seem like he’d be a very good team player.. so that is an issue to the collective…
I felt badly that Bates had to “take” some mudslinging. I wished that he had a better disposition on stage, his body language was blatantly defensive and he scowled. Sad. Not admirable or attractive. However he was facing a somewhat hostile crowd who had obvious harsh difficulties with his pro-business politics. The truth is the pro-business vote got him in and may end up keeping him in unless we (Berkeley People) finally organize appropriately again and truly stand up and take the power structure back to the people on the progressive party lines. This is why I support and am positive about Chris Worthington and how he came off sparkling like a light. It seems he really could garner a vote across social, political and economic demographics, on merit! Definitely, Worthington shows team spirit!
This leads me to some important observations. One is that the entire room was horrifically devoid of African American voter presence. I was shocked. Deeply troubled by that. I at once noticed the same was true of the Latino, Asian, Women and/or other social or ethnic groups. Great diversity poignantly and proudly marked my upbringing here in my home town of Berkeley so – What the hell happened since I’ve been gone? On a brighter note; the meeting was run well despite the lack of true diversity -socio-economic, cultural, ethnic etc… The fact is, I know this meeting could have been mired in obstreperous mayhem if it hadn’t been for the great organization of the Gray Panthers. They handed out 5×7 note cards, collected questions and were able to prioritize them so the candidates could best answer to the spirit and direction that was flowing in the debate.
However; I do know that a skilled emcee with a good microphone (never out of hand) is a way to get a lot of questions addressed too. In any case though, I was truly proud of the event. Even when there was a disturbance by a less than coherent elderly woman who was playing dominoes in the back of the East Berkeley Senior Center Rec. Room venue, the crowd was in good hands and for the most part stayed engaged and tuned in. Timing was run well and respectfully controlled which contributed to the success of the event.
I truly hope that the tenor of this debate, the first of the season of 2012 election year, will mark a trend towards the resurgence of a greater interest in civil engagement and the municipal government process here in my beloved home town of Berkeley. We have to overcome the need to waste time and energy on outdated controversy and begin again to address our common social and political values as well as engage the collective and cooperative spirit that made Berkeley a leader in setting forth progressive laws, enforcing equal rights as well as bringing to the fore our broad based social responsibility and an impetus toward social change. Yes. We Can!
You may have had a lot of diversity when you grew up, but I bet that is because the small number of schools force residents to mix. This is a city where the races pretty much keep to themselves. There is a lot of talk about diversity, but the people don’t live the talk. I can stroll Northside or Southside and not see a single person who isn’t white or Asian.
The pro-business vote DID NOT get him in. Bates was urged to run by people who were disgusted with Shirley Deans pro-development stance. She was hooked up with one hated developer. But Bates promotes all hated developers with reckless abandon. Because he comes with a very effective well-funded machine, it’s almost impossible to get him out.
Zachary Running Wolf in his last campaign would claim responsibility for the creation of the Ethnic Studies dept at Cal in the late 60s. He said he was the leader of the protest movement. At least he did until a google search revealed his name was not in any story about the movement. Confronted with the accusation, he removed the references from his website. His next lie, which he continues to say, is that there is an Indian burial ground just west of the football stadium. There’s no proof, and qualified people have said it is just not true, but hey — ZRW doesn’t need truth!
I can’t believe that Tom Bates has been mayor for so long. Maybe that’s why I stopped being politically involved in the city I have lived in, primarily, since 1972.
It’s way past time for him to go. There will be a “Say No to Measure S” fundraiser ($10/sliding scale)for C.O.T (BOSS Community Organizing Team) and my birthday party, Sunday Oct. 7th, at 7:30 pm. at Ashkenaz. The Funky Nixons and other street musicians will play. Come on Out!!!! Loren Jones
Gee Loren…it would have been nice to see you at the Berkeley Mayoral Forum sponsored by the Gray Panthers yesterday.
I generally wouldn’t support a liberal like Mayor Bates, but he has taken the courageous correct stance on Measure S to banish gutter punks. With idiots like Kriss Worthington, Zachary RunningWolf, and Kahlil Jacobs-Fantauzzi running against Bates, Bates is an easy pick in November.
“Gutter punks”…what is that? Your form of English and insults. Go get an education and learn how to speak English first and then learn some respect for other human beings second.
Sheesh! Shall we get French — obsequiously obsessed with proper (if you believe in that sort of thang) diction and word choice? Anglistch itself is a gutter language, n’est cest pas? Try be proud bout that. Mean time, sit, lie, roll over, play dead, beg. Whatsomeever!
Gutter punks deserve NO RESPECT because they chose that lifestyle for themselves.
[“A whole bunch of people seemed to have pretty good energy — almost
everybody except for Mayor Bates,” Wright said. “I think he’s been here
too long.”]
Kriss Worthington (who should get a life) has been on the Berkeley City Council for far too long.
http://krissworthington.com/about.php
An 11-year veteran of the Berkeley City Council
When will this idiot get a real job?
I am sure he is far better at his job on the City Council than you could ever be at yours.
[“This is selective enforcement,” Runningwolf said regarding Measure S. “We do live in a racist culture.”
A transparent play of the race card. Measure S targets gutter punks of all races, who need to be banished from the streets of Telegraph and to People’s Park.
The only people the police should be targeting is you.
Why haven’t you identified yourself? Perhaps you should go and “minister” to your “Gutter Punks” as you call them. I don’t subscribe either to what I call fake spirituality.. I am wholeheartedly anti-religion….. I don’t say “amen” and I don’t say “Ho” like RunningWolf…but I do say listen, and act on conscience and social responsibility. Seek our shared values, business, education, progressive, whatever. If you think “they” could serve some better purpose…give them one dude! I think the most amazing comments about this came from Fantauzzi (but I’m not sure who really) who spoke of giving these people things to do! Help all of us not JUST the businesses. This “trouble” has many solutions – How creative are we? Are we taking true responsibility? Are we willing to seek to be able to give the work that dignifies us, back to those “hangers on”. They are not hiding! We are. They are not screaming on the sidewalks…We are by sweeping humanity into the trash with this kind of law. The silence is deafening.
I guess Guest doesn’t want or needs gutter punks knocking on his door.
Anyone like Runningwolf who plays the race card is a racist and should be shunned anyone calls himself or herself a progressive.