Berkeley City Councilmember, parent, zoning reform evangelist, epic tome tweeter. She/her.
Feb 3, 2023 • 6 tweets • 3 min read
Hi friends! I’ve been off the grid for a bit but here is my take on Berkeley’s Housing Element and the letter I wrote in July about the sites inventory. If there is one thing I like to nerd out on, it’s this stuff.
The sites inventory, along with the ADU/JADU law passed by a majority of Council, violates state law.
Mar 19, 2021 • 27 tweets • 10 min read
SO WHAT DOES ZONING REFORM HAVE TO DO WITH THE HOUSING ELEMENT? Every ~8 years the city is required by law to update its Housing Element. @Scott_Wiener introduced a bill to help cities across CA address the myriad of problems we face because people don't have places to live.
As I mentioned, Berkeley has to zone for 9,000 homes so...we have to figure out where and how to do it. Here are Alameda County's draft numbers.
Mar 18, 2021 • 36 tweets • 10 min read
You’ve probably heard about Berkeley unanimously adopting a symbolic resolution decrying exclusionary zoning. Now what? The resolution only identified the problem, now we are going to try to DO SOMETHING about it. Join us on Thursday 3/25 at 5:00 at Berkeley City Council.
I’m happy to announce that @JesseArreguin@RashiKesarwani@TaplinTerry and I will be pursuing holistic and comprehensive zoning reform guidance in order to meet our state-mandated RHNA targets and address our housing crisis.
Stay tuned! 😁
This means addressing:
✅ the racial and economic disparities associated exclusionary zoning,
✅ increasing housing costs which price out a large part of our population
✅ climate change impacts due to urban sprawl
Feb 4, 2021 • 23 tweets • 8 min read
As the councilmember who represents the birthplace of racist exclusionary zoning laws, it is my great pleasure to announce that my colleagues @TaplinTerry, @benbartlettberk, @RigelRobinson & I are introducing a resolution calling for the end of exclusionary zoning in Berkeley.
Separately, Mayor @JesseArreguin has agreed to work with @RashiKesarwani, @TaplinTerry & I on legalizing quadplexes in Berkeley. This has been my passion for years and this represents a tidal shift in Berkeley. I’ll tell you why this is a historical moment. 🧵
Feb 1, 2021 • 16 tweets • 3 min read
My thoughts on Berkeley’s 37 commissions. A thread….
Many of you know that I got my start on Berkeley’s commissions. I love our resident-led commissions and their charge.
I also have taught political representation and feel strongly that we should give voices to people in our community so they can participate meaningfully and perhaps even run for office. This is my passion.
Jan 27, 2021 • 11 tweets • 4 min read
Yesterday, Berkeley abolished parking minimums, instituted parking maximums, and required new development to provide more bus passes and bike parking (among other things). It is a thrilling day for climate action and affordability in our city.
In 2015, I authored legislation to explore parking reform to address affordability and climate goals. (I swear I'm not as scary as this picture makes me look).
I can’t believe I have to write this in the middle of a pandemic when people are struggling but here we are.
Tuesday night 4/14, Berkeley will consider the following item cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/City_Cou… which has been opposed by affordable housing reps (SAHA & @BRIDGEhousing).
Carpenters & building trades are also expressing serious concerns. Attorneys for multi-unit properties for students & others have also said this is an overall home killer. It was a bad policy before COVID-19 & it’s catastrophic policy now. Here is a LONG thread...
Oct 27, 2019 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
On a call with Nat’l Weather Service (NWS), CalFire and PG&E et al
—NWS reports continued critical fire weather event thru tonight before tapering off Monday morning. Break comes late Monday before more wind Tuesday-Thursday.
—CalFire—Kinkade is at 30k acres, 10% contained
1/
PG&E describes ongoing event affecting 950k customers (their #s) affecting 6100 critical facilities, 36k medical baseline, and 38 counties.
PG&E expects you restore power 48 hours after all clear working from North to South.
Opened 72 community resource centers but 4 closed.
The sites inventory, along with the ADU/JADU law passed by a majority of Council, violates state law. 
