Berkeley · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Berkeley public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Affordable Housing Preference Policy Update
The city updated its affordable housing preference policy to create a simpler tiered system, helping families displaced by BART and historical redlining return to Berkeley.
Rent Stabilization Ordinance Ballot Measures
Berkeley's city council just put the brakes on landlords using software to set rent prices. They're worried algorithms could lead to unfair rent hikes, so they're banning this tech to keep things more affordable.
Environmental Health and Zero Waste Fee Increases
The city is establishing and raising fees for restaurant health inspections and zero waste plan checks to recover administrative costs and protect shrinking enterprise funds from deficits.
Public Bank Ballot Measure
Berkeley voters might get to vote on setting up California's first public bank, which could completely change how the city handles its money and local economic policies. This is a huge deal for municipal finance and could set a brand new trend for the state.
Homeless Encampments Lawsuit
Berkeley businesses are fed up with homeless encampments and are suing the city. They say the encampments are bad for business and want the city to step up and fix it.
Zoning Reform
Berkeley's considering a major zoning shake-up, possibly allowing duplexes and small apartments in areas currently reserved for single-family homes. This could open the door to more housing options in a notoriously expensive city.
City Manager Appointment
Berkeley has a new city manager, Paul Buddenhagen! He's now in charge of running the city, so get ready for some fresh ideas and a new direction for how Berkeley operates.
Building Codes
Berkeley's bold move to ban natural gas in new buildings is being reversed. This means new homes might go back to using gas, changing how we power our houses and build them in the future.
Gas Ban Repeal
Berkeley's groundbreaking ban on natural gas in new buildings is likely getting repealed. This means new homes and businesses might go back to using gas hookups, changing how we power our city.
Natural Gas Ban Ruling
Berkeley tried to ban natural gas in new buildings, but the feds just said 'no way.' A federal court refused to reconsider, so that ban is officially dead.
Psychedelics Policy
Berkeley's city council just voted to decriminalize certain psychedelics. This means fewer penalties for using these substances, potentially shifting how the city handles drug enforcement.
Zoning Change
Berkeley's ditching single-family zoning, opening the door for more housing types in neighborhoods previously restricted to just one house per lot. This could mean more apartments and duplexes popping up, potentially making the city more affordable and diverse.
Natural Gas Ban
Berkeley is making waves by becoming the first US city to ban natural gas hookups in new buildings. This groundbreaking decision could reshape how we construct and power everything from homes to businesses.
Gender-neutral City Code
Berkeley is updating its city code to ditch gendered words like "manhole" for inclusive terms like "maintenance hole." It's a quick linguistic update to make local government feel welcoming to everyone.
Fur Clothing Ban
Berkeley is cracking down on fashion by banning the sale of fur clothing, making it only the second city in the country to do so. If you love wearing fur, you'll need to shop elsewhere because local stores are clearing their shelves.