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.