Gale Garcia: Save historic buildings

Photo: Daniella Thompson, 2006

The following is a letter to the editor published today in the Berkeley Voice:

For several years, Mayor Bates and other pro-development forces have been trying to weaken our 32-year-old Landmarks Preservation Ordinance, which is all we have to protect the historic character of our town.

Measure J was a grassroots citizens’ initiative to retain our existing ordinance, in response to the mayor’s plan to adopt a new, demolition-friendly ordinance. Tens of thousands of dollars from developers and the chamber of commerce were spent to defeat Measure J, through a mean-spirited campaign of ridicule and lies.

On Dec. 12, the City Council approved the mayor’s new “Landmark Preservation Ordinance,” which is more like a demolition ordinance. When the public was allowed to comment, no one spoke in favor of this ordinance; many spoke in opposition, receiving vigorous applause.

Last-minute changes were hastily made so that no one had the chance to read the final version before the council adopted it, not even the council members!

The mayor’s ordinance enables demolition of historic buildings when there are no current plans to replace the buildings. This could lead to tax losses for the city, as some property taxes are based on square footage of structures.

With the market changing, several developers have already dropped their plans to build, in some cases after demolishing the existing buildings, leaving blighted vacant lots in their stead.

If you care about Berkeley’s unique neighborhoods and commercial areas, and if you care about honest public process, please sign the referendum to place this matter on the ballot. This will ensure that the mayor’s ordinance can be read, considered and understood before it becomes law—and before it’s too late.

Gale Garcia
Berkeley

Save the Stadium Oaks videos

Jess Walsh entertains the SF Chronicle columnist C.W. Nevius atop her tree perch. (L.A. Wood)

If you haven’t had a chance to visit the Memorial Stadium oak grove or participate in the various events that have been taking place there, not to worry. L.A. Wood is recording it all on videos that you can watch online.

See the ceremonies, the vigils, the rallies, the tree-sitters and their ground crew, police interventions, and even a columnist and a photographer from the San Francisco Chronicle huffing and puffing their way 50 feet up to Jess Walsh’s tree perch (the columnist C.W. Nevius lasted 3-1/2 hours in the tree).