Housing Advisory Commission

Mari Mendonca has launched a campaign for District 8 City Council with platforms focused on rent stabilization, diverse representation and government transparency.  

Candidates Leah Simon-Weisberg, Andy Kelley, Xavier Johnson, Dominique Walker and Mari Mendonca are leading the race for Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board as of press time, where they will work to regulate rent, provide tenants with protections and maintain affordable housing.

Mari Mendonca, who currently serves on the Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board, is running for reelection with hopes of advocating for affordable housing and extending rent control.

In October, the State Treasurer’s Office allocated a bond authority and $88.2 million in federal tax credits to help the production of affordable housing.

Longtime South Berkeley resident Leonard Powell was able to return to his home May 28 once he was able to pay for the necessary renovations to meet health and safety codes with the help of the community, according to a post by South Berkeley resident group Friends of Adeline.

The report detailed some “community-based alternatives,” such as having cities sanction and support “informal settlements” and increasing the number of community land trusts.

Rashi Kesarwani has won the race for Berkeley City Council District 1, defeating Igor Tregub, Margo Schueler and Mary Behm-Steinberg with 55.82 percent of the vote as of press time at 9 p.m.

Rashi Kesarwani and Igor Tregub will enter into an instant run-off for the District 1 seat, after no candidate received the absolute majority with 100 percent of precincts reporting as of press time.

In 1987, Berkeley residents Kevin and Lisa Gilmore were set to move into the low-income duplex that they won in a housing “lottery.” Instead, Lisa Gilmore became homeless and Kevin Gilmore began a decadeslong struggle with the city of Berkeley.

Half of the city council could see a change come November, and there are fourteen people running in total for the four district seats.