COVID-19 Updates, Recall Election, SolarAPP+, and More Berkeley News
As Classes Resume, Vaccination Efforts Ensure Safety of Community
The City of Berkeley and University of California, Berkeley, is pleased to welcome back students for the Fall 2021 semester. Both the City and University have been taking necessary steps to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 on campus and in our broader community as we resume many of the activities that make Berkeley such a wonderful and vibrant community.
The City’s extensive vaccination outreach has resulted in an estimated 82% fully vaccinated rate in Berkeley, among the highest in the nation. University of California systemwide policy states that all students, faculty and staff must be fully vaccinated in order to use UC facilities. And the implementation work of UC Berkeley officials has resulted in very impressive vaccination rates of 95% for students and 88% for faculty/staff. That percentage is expected to increase.
All students, regardless of vaccination status, must get tested upon arrival, with unvaccinated students in on-campus housing required to self-sequester. Additional requirements are needed for international students. COVID-19 guidelines for new and returning students can be found here. Further, there is a set of additional requirements (such as masking when indoors) that all members of the campus community must complete to access the campus.
For Berkeley community residents who have not yet gotten vaccinated, there are still plenty of opportunities to get your free, safe, and effective vaccine. Visit the City’s vaccination webpage to book an appointment. UC Berkeley students and faculty can get vaccine information here. As a reminder, masks are required in public indoor settings, regardless of vaccination status. Additional information and resources about COVID-19 can be found on the City’s website and the University’s website.
Understanding the Details of the Historic City-UC Agreement
Last month, the City of Berkeley and University of California Board of Regents approved a settlement agreement on UC Berkeley’s 2021 Long Range Development Plan (LRDP) and lawsuits challenging UC’s enrollment increases and impacts on neighborhoods. The Berkeley City Council authorized execution of the settlement by an 8-1 vote. This historic agreement is the culmination of several years of advocacy and litigation by the City over the impacts of significant campus enrollment increases, and paves the way for a new era of cooperation between the City of Berkeley and UC Berkeley. The agreement is one of the largest financial settlements any UC campus has provided a host city, and includes binding commitments on collaborative planning for campus growth and partnerships on issues important to the Berkeley community.
Since its announcement, there have been questions, as well as confusion about the terms and impact of this agreement. This summary is intended to clearly explain the agreement and its impact on the Berkeley community. Thank you for taking the time to read this outline of terms and coming to your own conclusion. The entire agreement can be found here.
Voting Underway in California's Gubernatorial Recall Election
The ballot drop box outside City Hall is one of six locations in Berkeley.
September 14th is Election Day in California, but early voting is now starting with over 1 million Californians having already submitted their ballots. By now, you should have received a ballot from the Alameda County Registrar of Voters. This ballot contains two questions - the first question asks whether or not you want to recall Governor Gavin Newsom. The second question asks which candidate you would vote for as the next governor if the first question succeeds.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, voters are encouraged to vote by mail. In addition to delivering your ballot in the mail, there are six ballot drop-boxes in Berkeley where people can safely deposit their ballots 24/7. These boxes can be found outside the following locations:
Berkeley City Hall: 2180 Milvia St
UC Berkeley Campus: Between Sather Gate and Architects & Engineering Building
Frances Albrier Recreation Center: 2800 Park St
Claremont Branch Library: 2940 Benvenue Ave
North Branch Library: 1170 The Alameda
West Branch Library: 1125 University Ave
For those who wish to vote in person, there will be nine polling locations in Berkeley. These locations are open on September 11th, 12th, and 13th from 9am-5pm and on September 14th (Election Day) from 7am-8pm. The polling locations are as follows:
Lutheran Church of the Cross: 1744 University Ave
Ed Roberts Campus: 3075 Adeline St
Rosa Parks Elementary: 920 Allston Way
Longfellow Middle School: 1500 Derby St
City of Berkeley Building: 1011 University Ave
Life Adventist Church of Berkeley: 2236 Parker St
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church: 401 Grizzly Peak Blvd
Epworth United Methodist Church: 1953 Hopkins St
Willard Middle School: 2425 Stuart St
Do you need to register/re-register to vote? The deadline to do so in order to vote in this election is on Monday, August 30th.
Latest COVID-19 Updates
The Delta variant continues to spread across the country, with new cases now averaging over 150,000 a day nationally, the highest rate since February. Most of this is being spread among the unvaccinated population. While vaccines are our best tool to protect ourselves, breakthrough cases can happen. To maximize protections, mask mandates are in place for indoor activities, regardless of vaccination status.
If you have not yet gotten vaccinated, there are still many opportunities to get vaccinated. On Monday, the FDA gave formal approval of the Pfizer vaccine, leading to more businesses and jurisdictions implementing vaccine mandates. The City of Berkeley is currently exploring this option and we hope to be able to provide an update on the status of such a policy soon. Additionally, a third dose of Pfizer or Moderna is now available for immunocompromised people. For more details and to see if you qualify for a third shot, click here. Third shots for the general public are currently being explored by the CDC, and will likely become available later this year.
With schools back in session, the Bay Area’s Health Officers have issued a joint statement highlighting that with effective protocols in place - including universal indoor masking, vaccinations of eligible persons, testing, good hand hygiene, staying home when sick and proper ventilation - can stop the spread of COVID in school settings. The statement goes on to say “the lack of in-person learning during the COVID-19 pandemic not only disrupted education, but it also weakened social supports and harmed the mental health of students. The risks and benefits of returning to in-person learning are clearer now than any other time during this pandemic - we must all continue to do everything possible to keep kids safely attending their schools.”
For additional information about COVID-19, visit the City’s COVID-19 webpage. We also recently launched a COVID-19 FAQ page with additional resources and information.
Berkeley Welcomes Department of Energy Secretary to Support SolarAPP+
Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm joins Mayor Arreguin and Bay Area elected officials in promoting SolarAPP+.
Last week, Secretary Jennifer Granholm visited Berkeley to tour the Berkeley Lab and highlight SolarAPP+, a new tool that significantly speeds up the permitting process for solar rooftop installation. This visit comes shortly after the highly anticipated International Panel on Climate Change report was released showing that a drastic cut in carbon emissions is necessary to prevent worsening climate change from becoming catastrophic. SolarAPP+ is an online web portal that automates the plan review and process for issuing permits to qualified businesses or individuals to install code-compliant residential photovoltaic (PV) systems. Based on model building, electrical, and fire codes, SolarAPP automatically performs a compliance check based on inputs supplied by the contractor to ensure the proposed system is safe and code compliant. The City of Berkeley, along with neighboring jurisdictions, is currently working to implement this program.
How to Help Humanitarian Efforts in Afghanistan and Haiti
823 Afghan refugees leave Kabul onboard a C-17. Source: U.S. Air Force
Aid and support is needed to address growing humanitarian crises in Afghanistan and Haiti. The people of Afghanistan are experiencing a tumultuous situation after the government swiftly fell to the Taliban. As a result, countless refugees are attempting to navigate potentially fatal situations in order to find a way out of the country as conditions continue to deteriorate. Meanwhile, Haiti, which is experiencing political turmoil after the assassination of their President last month, was recently struck by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake, killing thousands and displacing many more.
Several East Bay organizations are assisting in relocation efforts of Afghan civilians. Jewish Family & Community Services East Bay, based in Berkeley, is seeking support to help with relocating individuals who are currently being processed before their arrival to the region. Dozens of people are expected to arrive in the coming weeks, which may increase depending on how the fluid situation at Kabul airport and related evacuation efforts evolves. The International Rescue Committee Northern California is raising funds to help provide emergency temporary housing and rental support to Afghan refugees in the Bay Area, many of whom have previously supported and assisted allied operations in the country over the past twenty years.
Haiti, which is still recovering from the catastrophic earthquake that killed around 200,000 people in 2010, and has been the victim of several powerful hurricanes over the past ten years, is now facing additional crises. The Haiti Emergency Relief Fund, a fiscally sponsored project of Berkeley’s East Bay Sanctuary Covenant, has worked directly with the people of Haiti for years. Additional support is needed to support current rebuilding efforts after the recent 7.2 earthquake, which has been hampered by a highly active hurricane season.