West Berkeley is facing a surge of gun violence, traffic violence, and many in our community are fixed-income seniors facing food insecurity. We are a historically disinvested community, and Councilmember Taplin and our neighborhoods are fighting hard to secure much-needed resources. The budget must reflect the city’s Strategic Plan priorities to (1) provide state-of-the-art, well-maintained infrastructure, amenities, and facilities; (2) create affordable housing and housing support services for our most vulnerable community members; and (3) create a resilient, safe, connected, and prepared city.

For the Fiscal Year 2022 Annual Appropriations Ordinance, the City Council must fund:

• Security cameras in public spaces to investigate and deter violent crime;

• Berkeley Ceasefire program to break intergenerational cycles of violence;

• Social housing to make housing a human right;

• 10th Street traffic calming near George Florence Park, schools, and seniors;

• Food program for fixed-income seniors at Strawberry Creek Lodge