Berkeleyites just got mailed a glossy newsletter-looking thing published anonymously "by neighbors, for neighbors." Let's check some assertions, and look into the publisher 1/ 
There's an entire page devoted to an un-sourced argument that homeless people in Berkeley are moving here from out of state because our homeless services "can't be beat."
This ... would surprise actual homeless people in Berkeley. 2/
This ... would surprise actual homeless people in Berkeley. 2/
In fact, Berkeley's latest point-in-time homeless count finds 5% of homeless Berkeleyan were living out of state at the time they became homeless. 3/
The rest of the articles are pretty standard anti-government fare:
-Complaints about purportedly high property taxes
-Complaints that city employee compensation is eating money for pothole repair. 4/
-Complaints about purportedly high property taxes
-Complaints that city employee compensation is eating money for pothole repair. 4/
So, who's publishing this this newsletter ?
-It has a return address that is a PO box inside a UPS store
-It links to a URL, whose registrar is anonymized
BUT, the online PDF version of the newsletter has metadata that indicates who made it . . . 5/
-It has a return address that is a PO box inside a UPS store
-It links to a URL, whose registrar is anonymized
BUT, the online PDF version of the newsletter has metadata that indicates who made it . . . 5/
Krista Gulbransen is the CEO of the "Berkeley Rental Housing Coalition". She lives in Oakland. Her board consists almost entirely of large landlords. 6/
The Berkeley Rental Housing Coalition was founded to fight for bigger rent increases in Berkeley. 7/ eastbaytimes.com/2015/06/24/ber…
They also . . . don't have a great track record disclosing their political spending. 8/ eastbaytimes.com/2015/06/24/ber…
Here's what they have disclosed, from state elections:
-Almost $100k in spending to defeat a statewide initiative that would have lifted restrictions on the forms of rent control local governments can impose.
-Contributions to a couple assembly dems . . in Southern CA.
-Almost $100k in spending to defeat a statewide initiative that would have lifted restrictions on the forms of rent control local governments can impose.
-Contributions to a couple assembly dems . . in Southern CA.
Just a normal Berkeley organization "by neighbors*, for neighbors**"
*actually published by someone who lives in Oakland
**actually funding statewide ballot fights and candidates 400 miles away /fin
*actually published by someone who lives in Oakland
**actually funding statewide ballot fights and candidates 400 miles away /fin
IF YOU LIVE IN BERKELEY I'd love to hear
1. If you got this, and
2. If you are a renter or homeowner
1. If you got this, and
2. If you are a renter or homeowner
Oh hey, on point 8 I pasted in the wrong link, but can't fix it without breaking the thread.
Here's coverage of the Berkeley Rental Housing Coalition's past disclosure problems: dailycal.org/2017/10/22/bfc…
Here's coverage of the Berkeley Rental Housing Coalition's past disclosure problems: dailycal.org/2017/10/22/bfc…
Oh hey, on this point pasted in the wrong link, but can't fix it without breaking the thread.
Here's coverage of the Berkeley Rental Housing Coalition's past disclosure problems: dailycal.org/2017/10/22/bfc…
Here's coverage of the Berkeley Rental Housing Coalition's past disclosure problems: dailycal.org/2017/10/22/bfc…
Lolz, enough of you liked and RT'd this that the reference to UPS triggered a customer service bot:
CONTEXT:
The arguments Berkeley over-taxes property and wastes $ come just before a March 3 vote on three measures that would tax property owners to fund Berkeley schools. h/t @nat_orenstein berkeleyside.com/2019/11/25/wha…
The arguments Berkeley over-taxes property and wastes $ come just before a March 3 vote on three measures that would tax property owners to fund Berkeley schools. h/t @nat_orenstein berkeleyside.com/2019/11/25/wha…
@threadreaderapp unroll so I can share with friends who don't do Twitter please
