COVID-19 Vaccines, Housing Development, State of the City, and More Berkeley News

2021 State of the City - A Discussion on Building Resilience

 
 

Last week I presented the 2021 State of the City, focusing on what we are doing to build resilience after 20 months of the COVID-19 pandemic and the growing consequences of climate change. As with the 2020 address, we did not have a traditional format; instead I spoke with local journalists in a virtual forum setting. I am grateful to Alex Savidge of KTVU and Rachel Swan of the San Francisco Chronicle for their participation and their thoughtful questions on a variety of topics, such as housing and homelessness, public safety and wildfires, infrastructure, and business.

Missed out on the event? You can watch the full State of the City here. Don’t have an hour to spare? We tweeted out the highlights on specific topics.

COVID-19 Vaccines Now Available for Children 5-11, Booster Shots Available for All Adults

 
 

COVID-19 vaccinations are now available for children aged 5-11. Berkeley has already excelled, with over 60% of children in that age group having received their first dose during the first three weeks of availability. Thank you to the parents who have gotten their children vaccinated! To book an appointment, click here. Please note that due to high demand, availability is currently limited.

Booster shots are now available to all adults age 18 and older. People who had Pfizer or Moderna can receive it six months after their second dose, and those who took the Johnson & Johnson single shot can get a booster after two months.

Currently, 89% of Berkeley residents aged 5 and over are fully vaccinated, which is among the highest rates in the country for a city of our size. There have been a total of 5,233 cases in Berkeley, with an average of 9 cases a day over the last seven days, a number that has been slightly increasing over the past month. With the winter season upon us, the risk of a new wave remains, which is why it is important to get a booster shot to lower that risk.

For information on COVID-19 vaccinations visit www.cityofberkeley.info/covid19


United Against Hate Week Recap

 
 

Last week’s United Against Hate Week was the biggest event yet, with jurisdictions from across the country and even as far as Ukraine participating. We received a wide range of video messages, from local groups such as the Berkeley Police Department, to California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta and Senator Alex Padilla.

In 2018, we partnered with Not In Our Town to launch the first United Against Hate Week. Communities throughout all corners of the Bay Area, Communities throughout the region took the opportunity to host events that empower local residents to take action in their local communities and alter the course of growing intolerance.

This year’s event comes during a surge in hate crimes across the nation, especially against Asian Americans. Social media, notably Facebook and its parent company Meta, has come under fire for failing to address the proliferation of hate speech on their platforms. To make matters worse, Facebook refused to accept ads to promote United Against Hate Week, specifically a post that provided data on the rise of hate crimes against the AAPI community. In response, Council adopted a Resolution condemning Facebook and calling on them to to update its policies to address hate speech and the proliferation of misinformation.

Final RHNA Plan to Create Thousands of Affordable Units in Berkeley

 
 

This week, the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) released the final Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) Plan for Bay Area jurisdictions, after spending the last couple of months addressing appeals to the proposal. In total, 441,176 units of housing are planned to be built in the nine-county region between 2023-2031, including 114,442 units for very low income households (<50% area median income, or AMI). This number is historically high, but necessary to catch up after decades of underproduction.

Berkeley’s proposed housing allocation for this eight year cycle is 8,934 new units. Of this, 2,446 (27.4%) are for very low income (<50% AMI), 1,408 (15.8%) at low income (50%-80% AMI), 1,416 (15.8%) at moderate income (80%-120% AMI), and 3,664 (41.0%) above moderate income (>120% AMI).

Mayor Arreguin serves as President of the Association of Bay Area Governments. A public hearing will take place on December 16th to consider adoption of the final RHNA Plan.

Dorothy Day House Improv For Good Fundraiser

 
 

Act II Improv is a performance troupe that believes in giving back to the community. Over its six-year history they have helped raise thousands of dollars for worthy non-profit charity partners in the Bay Area. They accomplish this through their performance vehicle called “Improv for Good”, an improvised theatrical production.

On November 28th, 2021, they will be raising money and awareness for their charity partner, Dorothy Day House at The Back Room in Berkeley.

Founded in 1992, Dorothy Day House has been a consistent source of support, comfort, and safety for the unhoused in Berkeley. Their mission is to provide a caring presence, shelter, and sustenance to those in need among us. To learn more about their mission and services, please visit their website.

What: Improv for Good - Dorothy Day House Fundraiser

Where: The Back Room, 1984 Bonita Ave

When: Sunday, November 28, 4pm-6pm (doors open 3:30pm)

Tickets: $20, click here to purchase


Support HelpBerkeley's Meal Deliveries

 
 

Since receiving the Bay Area Jefferson Award for Public Service, the wonderful volunteers at HelpBerkeley.org have delivered close to 200,000 free meals so far this year. HelpBerkeley need your help over Thanksgiving and the Holiday season—and, in general, on an ongoing basis!

For their Thanksgiving and Holiday runs, they need:

  • food preppers and cooks (in person)

  • food packers (in person)

  • pickup managers for deliveries (in person)

  • drivers (in person)

  • dispatchers of all kinds (online)

If you can help them, for a single opportunity, for a few events, or for a longer time:

Thanks so much for your generosity in this Holiday season!

Berkeley Chamber Holiday Gift Fair

 
 

The Berkeley Chamber is excited to announce that their 3rd Annual Holiday Gift Fair will be back in person on Thursday December 9th, 2021, from 4-7pm at The UC Theatre. Check out 30+ local vendors and pick up gifts for everyone on your list! Bring your mask and proof of vaccination. See you there! This event is FREE to the public!

Can't make it to the Gift Fair? Shop from the comfort of your home at BerkeleyHolidays.com

Jesse Arreguin