Berkeley Weekly Update - 2/6/24

Specialized Care Unit Update

The Specialized Care Unit (SCU) launched in September 2023 as an innovative way to respond to people experiencing a mental health crisis without an armed police response. The SCU provides professional non-police responses to mental health and substance abuse crises. The number, (510) 948-0075, is available seven days a week from 6am to 4pm, with plans to expand this to 24/7 in the future.

Since its launch, there have been over 250 calls to the SCU. The most common types of calls are for welfare checks, responding to someone in distress, and substance abuse issues. Only less than 15 calls have resulted in a psychiatric hold. 70% of calls have been for individuals who are unhoused, 25% are not experiencing homelessness, and 5% are not known.

Bonita House, which runs the SCU, is in the process of hiring additional staff to support the expansion of the operation hours. This is expected to be expanded within the next couple of months, and ultimately will expand to operate 24/7. As the SCU expands, this will free up time for Berkeley Police Officers to better proactively address public safety and improve response rates. Thank you to our Health Housing & Community Services Department for their work in making this happen.

Get Ready for the March 2024 Primary

The 2024 Primary Election will take place on March 5, 2024, with voting beginning this week as ballots are mailed out. All information about the upcoming election can be found at the Alameda County Registrar of Voters website. Here is the critical information you need to know to know before casting your ballot:

What is on the Ballot?

On the federal level, Californians will vote in the Presidential Primary. If you are registered to a political party, you will receive the ballot for that party’s presidential primary. If you have no party preference, you can request a ballot for the Democratic, Libertarian, or American Independent Party. For all other parties, you must be a member of that party to participate. There are two ballots for federal Senate, one for the 2025-2031 term, and the other to complete the remainder of the late Dianne Fienstein’s term. Unlike the Presidential race, everyone regardless of party affiliation votes, with the top two making it to the general election on November 5th. The same applies to Congress, which is also an open seat.

On the state level, there is an open seat for the State Senate, and voters will also vote for the Assembly. The top two vote getters will advance to the general election. There is one proposition, Prop 1, which is a bond for mental health services.

Countywide, there are several judicial seats that will be filled in addition to two ballot measures. Measure A is an amendment to the County Charter to change the notification period of each civil service examination from not less than 25 days to not less than 14 days. Measure B would replace the language for the County recall process with the State’s recall language. Various political parties will have elections for the County Party representatives. Berkeley voters will also vote for an open Supervisor seat, with the top two candidates going through to the general election.

Citywide, there is one ballot measure, Measure H. This will renew a parcel tax to fund the School District at $0.54 per square foot. There are no primaries for city offices. A special election will take place on April 16th to fill the District 7 Council Office vacancy.

When and Where Can I Vote?

Ballots began being mailed on February 5th, and you should receive your ballot within a week. If after a week you still have not received your ballot, contact the Alameda County Registrar of Voters by calling (510) 272-6973 or emailing ballot.trax@acgov.org. Once you receive your ballot, you can vote anytime between now and March 5 by mailing your ballot or dropping it at a designated ballot drop box. You can also vote at a polling center in the days leading up to March 5, with nine locations in Berkeley.

How do I Register to Vote?

You can register or re-register to vote online at the Secretary of State website, where you can also check your registration status. You can register to vote up to 15 days before the election, although there is also same-day registration where you will receive a provisional ballot. You will need to re-register to vote if you have changed your address or name since the last election.

City Launches New Careers Website

The Human Resources Department has recently launched a new website, berkeley.careers, as part of the City’s Employer of Choice Initiative to address the national trend of high vacancies rates in the government sector. Since the Initiative was launched last year, employment in the City of Berkeley is on the rise, helping ensure the City provides effective and efficient services. An advertising campaign will now be launched to reach out to prospective employees to further reduce vacancy rates. Check out the website to learn more about job availability in the City of Berkeley, along with benefits and other opportunities.

Business License Renewal

This year’s Business License Renewal is due February 29th, and completing it is now easier than ever. The Online Portal automatically calculates the tax due, requires no staff intervention, and emails an unofficial business license the same day. There are also options to mail in the renewal or do it in-person. For more details, click here.