Public Safety Updates, Kala Bagai Way, Restaurant Week, and More Berkeley News
Commemorating One Year of COVID-19 Shelter in Place Order
One year ago this week, the City of Berkeley asked residents to shelter in place, transforming our lives, our work, and our relationships. The data shows that thanks to the swift action of our community our early response did limit the spread of COVID-19. As of Wednesday, March 17, exactly one year since the first shelter in place, 2.84% of Berkeley’s population has tested positive at one point, compared to 8.97% of the entire country.
As we move forward into a post COVID-19 world, I encourage our community to take a moment to reflect. The pandemic has shown clearly the socioeconomic and racial disparities that plague society. Yet the pandemic has also reminded me of the compassion, generosity, and empathy of the Berkeley community. I look forward to the day we can meet and work together in-person, and to the better days ahead.
Two weeks ago marked one year since the City declared a local State of Emergency, the same day the first case was reported in Berkeley. To mark this moment, a newsletter was sent out summarizing the work the City has done to respond to this unprecedented crisis. If you missed that newsletter, you can view it here.
New Interim Police Chief Appointed After Greenwood Retirement
Interim Chief Jen Louis (left) replaces Chief Andrew Greenwood (right) who retired earlier this month. Photo Credit: Tom Lochner, East Bay Times (2016)
I want to thank Police Chief Andrew Greenwood for his decades of dedicated service to the Berkeley community and wish him the very best in his retirement. Chief Greenwood is a lifelong Berkeley resident, deeply committed to our city and our values, and rose through the ranks of BPD from a cadet to now leading a department with a long history of progressive policing. He has given his heart and soul to this department and to the community he has served. I have gotten to know the Chief personally over the past five years, and was impressed by his management of very challenging events including a series of unpermitted events in 2017 organized by hate groups. Throughout this time, he handled these moments with professionalism and focus. He has provided stable leadership and has focused on increasing staffing and implementing groundbreaking reforms. He will be missed.
I want to also congratulate Interim Chief Jennifer Louis on her promotion. I want to thank her for stepping in and leading this department at an important time and I look forward to working with her and the staff of BPD as we continue our work toward improving community safety. The City will conduct a nationwide search for a new Police Chief and will engage labor and community representatives in the process of selecting a new Chief.
Moving Forward on Reimaging Public Safety
Last month, the Berkeley City Council voted unanimously to adopt Mayor Jesse Arreguín's groundbreaking police reforms aimed at ending pretext stops and reducing racial disparities in policing outcomes. The move comes in the wake of the Center on Policing Equity’s report which showed Black persons are 6.5 times more likely to be stopped by the Berkeley Police Department (BPD) than white persons while driving, and 4.5 times more likely to be stopped while on foot. The new policies, which range from eliminating police stops for low-level offenses not impacting public safety to requiring written consent for police searches, will allow police officers to focus resources on serious risks while reducing unnecessary police interventions experienced disproportionately by people of color.
This month, the City launched its community process to Reimagine Public Safety, which will build on these efforts to reform Berkeley's current policing approach towards a new system of positive, equitable and community-centered public safety. Initiatives include the development of a Specialized Care Unit to respond to mental health calls and the creation of a Department of Transportation (BerkDOT).
Kala Bagai Way Promotes Berkeley's Asian American History
Last month, Kala Bagai Way was officially unveiled, marking the culmination of a community-driven action to rename the street as part of the Shattuck Reconfiguration Project. The street renames the eastern fork of Shattuck Avenue which runs between Center Street and University Avenue.
Kala Bagai and her husband, Vaishno Das Bagai, were among the first South Asians to immigrate to California in 1915, purchasing a home in Berkeley only to be physically barred from entering their home by their neighbors. Despite the setbacks caused by systemic racism, Vaishno became a US citizen in 1921. However, two years later the Supreme Court ruled that Indian Americans are ineligible for citizenship. With his citizenship revoked, he fell into a deep depression that he could not recover from, taking his own life. But through this unimaginable pain, Bagai persisted, going on to raise her three children through college and helped build a South Asian community in Southern California, building bridges between American and Indian cultures. Bagai, who earned the endearing nickname “Mother India” remained at the heart of the community she helped create until her death in 1983 at the age of 90.
This comes at a time when hate crimes against the AAPI community have skyrocketed. On March 9th, the City Council passed a resolution condemning anti-Asian hate and violence. One week later, the country was shocked by a horrific massacre that left eight people dead, including six Asian women. Acknowledging the history of systemic racism and those who committed to dismantling such institutions is essential in moving towards a more equitable society.
AC Transit All-Door Boarding for Lines 6 and 51B
AC Transit is excited to roll out All-Door Boarding pilot program on lines 6 & 51B. Clipper® card holders are welcome to use rear doors and pay fares by tagging upon boarding. Clipper users with mobility devices, as well as, all riders paying with cash, paper pass or an app will continue to board at the front door.
As part of AC Transit reNEW initiatives, the pilot will offer an additional contactless payment option for Clipper® users, and will facilitate social distancing during boarding. We’ll use feedback collected during the 6-month test period to evaluate the benefits of All-Door Boarding such as, reliability and faster service to your destination.
Please check the AC Transit website for more information, frequently asked questions, or contact our Customer Call Center at 510-891-4777.
2021 Berkeley Restaurant Week: March Munch Madness
The 2021 Berkeley Restaurant Week is here! Needless to say, this has been a difficult year that resulted in restaurants being forced to change their business models, leading to a reduction in employment and 40 restaurants and bars closing permanently. But with the weather warming up and outdoor dining becoming an established option along with takeout/delivery, now is the perfect time to patronize our diverse variety of restaurants.
From March 18th-31st, 55 restaurants are participating, providing special offers at great prices. For a list of participating restaurants and additional information, click here.