Jacquelyn McCormick Berkeley City Mayor When Tom Bates was last re-elected as mayor of Berkeley in 2008, we expected him to be a leader who could bring local officials and residents together. Instead, he has proven to be a mayor who, especially in recent months, is unable to bridge the Read More…
So far, this year’s race for Berkeley mayor seems to be composed of two parties: Tom Bates and everyone else. As a 10-year incumbent, Bates is an easy target for the other candidates. But opponents are placing too much emphasis on criticizing his record when voters really need to see Read More…
At the July 10 City Council meeting, after more than two hours of public testimony, a group of protesters, actively egged on by Councilmember Kriss Worthington, began shouting and singing so that no further discussion could take place. The remaining public speakers and council members were shouted down. Read More…
Free speech, day laborers and the poor and homeless are under attack in Berkeley. Historically, we are used to standing up and saying no to such attacks from right-wing politicians or corporations. Sadly, this time the attacks come from our very own mayor. Read More…
Ken Sarachan and the city of Berkeley have been entangled in conflict for years over the vacant lot on the northeast corner of Telegraph Avenue and Haste Street, which Sarachan purchased in the 1990s. Read More…
Late at night on July 10, Mayor Tom Bates faced a tough decision. The Berkeley City Council meeting, at the time focused on placing the contentious “sit-lie” measure on the November ballot, was being derailed by an unruly crowd of the measure’s detractors, who sang loudly in protest. Bates needed Read More…
In Feb. 2007, Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates said, “We are poised to be an international center for the development of new environmental technologies… That opportunity grew with the award of a $500 million biofuels research center to UC Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab two weeks ago.” Of course you’ve Read More…
The city of Berkeley is undergoing a project to improve the sanitation system of its Cuban sister city, Palma Soriano. The two cities’ relationship stretches back for nearly a decade after establishing sister-city relations in 2002. Read More…
The Berkeley City Council committed to establish a community process to address homelessness in the city. Read More…
Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin is taking all sorts of risks — not dealing with politics but sports. Swearengin has made two friendly wagers over Saturday’s football game between Cal and Fresno State at Candlestick Park in San Francisco — one with Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates and another with San Francisco Read More…
