judy appel

Here's a recap of news you might have missed in Berkeley during winter break.

Berkeley Unified School District board President Judy Appel and her wife Alison Bernstein are continuing their medical treatment in a local hospital with the added support of a community fundraising effort after sustaining critical injuries in a South Berkeley car incident Jan. 5.

Berkeley Unified School District board President Judy Appel and her wife Alison Bernstein are in critical condition after being hit by a car just after midnight Friday, as first reported by Berkeleyside.

At the meeting, the board officialized new positions, instituting Judy Appel as the board president, Beatriz Leyva-Cutler as vice president and Ty Alper as the clerk. The board also heard an update on the 2020 vision for Berkeley’s youth and approved the first interim budget for 2019.

Members of both the Berkeley Federation of Teachers and the Berkeley Council of Classified Employees spoke during public comment in front of audience members holding signs that read, “Living wages for BUSD employees.”

Harrison was sworn into office in March 2017 and during her time on the council has worked on multiple issues, including police reform, affordable housing and homelessness. Now that Harrison has been re-elected, she said she is “gratified” by the results.

The Berkeley Unified School District Board voted at its Wednesday meeting to approve spending up to $20,000 to retain an attorney who will help grant 16- and 17-year-olds the right to vote in board elections.

Both Democratic candidates have similar platforms, hoping to address the housing crisis, environmental issues and the criminal justice system.

The city will have exclusive access to the board room and its supporting facilities for public meetings Tuesdays and Thursdays after 3 p.m.

State Assembly District 15 candidate Jovanka Beckles spoke at a community talk in Berkeley on Saturday that included the perspectives of multiple speakers involved in local politics.