Spring Dinner Meeting:   Something New

On May 18, about sixty of us gathered in Hiller Highlands to gaze at the Bay and to feast on Jalisco-style enchiladas verdes, tacos de pollo, frijoles and tortillas de maiz.  We also talked a bit about the November elections in Berkeley.  The food and the conversation were helped along by estate-bottled Schoeneman wines, generously provided by the vintner-grower (thank you Kurt and Sarah).

Our special guest was George Beier who on that very afternoon had announced his candidacy against Kriss Worthington for the District 7 City Council seat.  District 7 was designed for the incumbent, being largely tenant and largely student.  Nonetheless there seems to be evidence that the voters there are concerned that after ten years of representing them, Mr. Worthington has not reversed the obvious decline of Telegraph Avenue, or done anything to resolve the open sore that is People's Park. 

George was introduced as a dot-com genius whose software is widely used by lending institutions all over the country.  But he came off as a relatively uncomplicated neighborhood guy concerned over the direction of the City around him.  He urged the City to take advantage of the rich history of Telegraph Avenue as a counter-cultural Mecca.  He also made clear his desire to re-look at People's Park, which is one of those so-called “third rails” which Berkeley politicians like to stay quiet about.

We spent a lot of time on the various answers to the condo conversion dilemma, with special attention being paid to the initiative petition now being circulated on Berkeley streets.  The audience was fired up and left determined to bring a fresh message to local voters.