Today we woke up to news of a horrible mass shooting, this time at a synagogue in Pittsburg, PA, during a service. I am saddened and outraged over this heinous attack which occurred on the holy day of Shabbat, a day of rest, reflection and prayer for the Jewish people. This hate crime strikes at the heart of the Jewish community.

On September 26, elected leaders and community members from a half dozen cities across the Bay Area gathered in Berkeley to launch United Against Hate Week, a campaign to stop the hate that threatens the safety and civility of our communities.

Did you know that Berkeley has over 160,000 people working in manufacturing? While this is a fraction of the number of And starting October 2, Berkeley residents will get a glimpse of our hometown manufacturing industry with Manufacturers' Day.

I am grateful to Gov. Jerry Brown for signing SB 721, legislation that will set standards for inspection of balconies and decks to prevent tragedies like the Library Gardens balcony collapse in June 2015 that killed six students.

As the City of Berkeley considers potentially building housing on land around the North Berkeley BART station, we want to hear from residents. To be clear, there is no current project for the site. But if have ideas for what this area — bounded by Sacramento, Delaware, Acton and Virginia streets — should look like, we want to hear from you!

I am horrified and saddened to hear about yesterday’s shooting at San Pablo Park that injured three people. Unfortunately this is not the first time a shooting has occurred in the San Pablo Park neighborhood in recent years. Initial reports suggest this was a drive by shooting in which one of the victims may have been the target. 

I want to take this opportunity to explain the reasons why I changed my vote on the issue of our Police Department participating in the 2018 Urban Shield exercise.

For the past year, the Council Ad-Hoc Subcommittee on Urban Shield has worked extensively to research the Urban Shield program, and our Berkeley Police Department’s training needs.

I am outraged and heartbroken about what's happening on our southern border. Separating children from parents --many of whom are fleeing violence and persecution in their home countries -- is inhumane and goes against decades of immigration policy for the U.S. to be a refuge for people from all over the world. 

An elderly man sitting in a wheelchair on a city street, next to a tent that is his only home. A woman with an emergency room bracelet on her arm going through the trash at a local cafe looking for something to eat.

These images are heartbreaking, but are becoming increasingly common in our community.