COVID-19 Update, Upcoming Community Events, and More Berkeley News
Regional Stay At Home Order Lifted
The Greater Bay Area has returned to the Purple Tier Restrictions under the Blueprint for a Safer Economy, effective immediately.
Yesterday (January 25th), the State of California lifted the Regional Stay At Home Order in all regions of California, citing data and trends indicating that regions will have an ICU capacity above 15% within the next four weeks. This means that Berkeley and Alameda County will revert back to the “Purple Tier” restrictions under the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy.
While the number of ICU beds available has increased and hospitalizations are going down, with the spread of several highly contagious COVID variants, it is essential that even with activities reopening that residents comply with the requirements of the public health order, to shelter in place except for essential activities, to practice physical distancing, wear a face mask and take other precautions. The fact that variants are more transmissible makes the social distancing requirements even more important.
The following businesses and activities are now allowed:
Outdoors only, with modifications
• Campgrounds
• Cardrooms and Racetracks
• Family Entertainment Centers and Movie Theaters
• Gyms
• Museums
• Places of Worship and Cultural Ceremonies
• Restaurants, Wineries, and Tasting Rooms
• Zoos and Aquariums
Indoors, with modifications
• Hair Salons and Barbershops
• Hotels and Lodging (indoor gyms and fitness studios remain closed)
• Personal Care Services, including Massage, Nail Salons and Skin Care Services
• Grocery Stores may increase capacity to 50 percent
• Other Retail may increase capacity to 25 percent
Kindergarten-6th grade schools can reopen once the new case rate dips below 25 cases per 100,000 residents for five consecutive days. Alameda County is currently at 37.7 cases per 100,000. Middle and high schools will be allowed to reopen once the County enters the Red Tier.
Social pods are allowed again, with up to three different households allowed to meet outdoors, with masks and physical distancing. Large gatherings (gatherings of more than three different households in a pod) and gathering indoors are still prohibited.
The latest information about vaccines can be found here, including a form you can fill out to be notified on when you can get vaccinated.
Learn About the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) at Community Forum
Press Conference from February 2020 introducing TOPA.
Tomorrow, Wednesday, January 27th, the Mayor’s Office is co-hosting a community forum to talk about the proposed Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA). The proposal empowers tenants by giving them the right of first offer and right of first refusal on the property they live in when an owner is ready to sell. Tenants can also assign their rights to a qualified affordable housing developer to purchase on their behalf.
What: Preventing Displacement & Creating Homeownership Opportunity: A Community Conversation on Berkeley's TOPA Proposal
When: Wednesday, January 27, 5-6:30pm
Join by:
- Zoom - tinyurl.com/topaforum, Passcode: 227355
- Stream - tinyurl.com/berkeleymayor
- Call In - (669) 900-6833, Meeting ID: 835 2189 3639, Passcode: 227355
Applications for Reimagining Public Safety Task Force Due February 8th
Last month, the City Council voted to establish a Reimagining Public Safety Task Force, which will begin a robust community engagement process led by the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (NICJR). The Task Force will also provide input and make recommendations to NICJR for a new and transformative model of positive, equitable, and community-centered safety for Berkeley.
The Task Force will be appointed with an eye toward ensuring a diversity of views, perspectives, and experiences including: (1) representation from impacted communities including formerly incarcerated individuals, victims/family members of violent crimes, our immigrant community, (2) reflecting a wide-range of relevant expertise in areas such as violence prevention, youth services, mental health, public health, crisis intervention and restorative or transformative justice, law enforcement operations, city budget operations, and (3) commitment to the goals of the Task Force.
Applications for the Mayor’s appointee are now closed, but you still have an opportunity to join as an at-large member. The deadline is Monday, February 8. To apply, and for more information, click here.
Community Meeting on North Berkeley and Ashby BART Development: February 8th
Everyone is invited to attend a Community Meeting on Monday, February 8th, 2021 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm to discuss ongoing work to prepare for development at the Ashby and North Berkeley BART stations.
This Community Meeting is the latest opportunity to learn more about the planning process and provide your own input and insights into a draft Vision and Priorities statement for zoning and development at the Ashby and North Berkeley BART stations. The event will include presentations, a Q and A session, and a live survey to share your views on this crucial part of Berkeley’s future.
Also, the MOU between the City of Berkeley and BART for development at the Ashby and North Berkeley BART stations includes a provision that the City identify funds for the development of affordable housing at the stations. The process to identify those funds will begin through two City commissions over the next month: the Measure O Bond Oversight Committee and the Housing Advisory Commission (HAC). The next meetings of each commission are below and are open to the public:
The Measure O Bond Oversight Committee will meet on February 1, 2021. The meeting agenda and Zoom and call-in information can be found on the Oversight Committee’s website.
The Housing Advisory Commission will meet on February 10, 2021. The meeting agenda and Zoom and call-in information can be found on the Housing Advisory Commission’s website.
Please visit the City’s BART Planning website to learn more about the project.
Thank you and if you have any questions or need any additional information, please send an email to ashen@cityofberkeley.info.
Community Meeting #2
Monday, February 8, 2021, 6 - 8pm
Zoom: http://bit.ly/Berkeley-BART-CM2
Call-In: (888) 475-2299
Meeting ID: 979 3568 4068
Passcode: 872131
Alta Bates Car Caravan to Highlight Worker Safety
On Wednesday, January 27, thousands of National Nurses United members will be participating in a National Day of Action to call attention to the health care industry’s failure to protect nurses and health care workers, and to demand prioritizing people over profit. As nurses continue to be on the front lines of this pandemic, too many lives have been lost—Black and Brown communities disproportionately being ravaged by COVID, and health care workers losing their lives due to employers’ negligence.
A car caravan event will take place at Alta Bates on Wednesday, January 27th at 1:30pm. Meeting point is at 3010 Colby Street, Berkeley. Alta Bates, which Sutter has threatened to close by 2030, has played a critical role at addressing the COVID-19 crisis, and we thank and salute healthcare workers for putting their lives on the line to treat and protect others from the virus.
Berkeley Celebrates Inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris
Berkeley resident Peter displays an LED American flag on Inauguration Day
The inauguration of President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris ushered in a new era of cooperation, compassion, and community. The inauguration had a special meaning for Berkeley, as Harris is a daughter of Berkeley, a city known for its progressive climate and inclusive community. I am proud to stand with our new Vice President, a leader who was shaped by and now embodies such values.
To mark this momentous occasion, Berkeley residents and businesses were encouraged to blanket the city with American flags. Flying our nation’s flag in one of the America’s most progressive and inclusive cities to mark the peaceful transfer of power showed that we can help restore integrity to the American flag, ensuring that red white and blue continues to serve as an undying symbol of freedom, democracy, and hope to both Americans and our friends around the world.