Memorial Tree Planting in the Park for our friend and comrade Dickie Haskill Sunday:
Aug 28th on the Dwight Street side.
10 AM: meet up and preparations
11 AM: Circle up and planting
Bring a photo, a story, art, food, a song to share, and/or just your lovely self ready to create a little area where folx can be and remember our dear friend. We have a peach tree donated. Other seeds, plants, art, etc most welcome to bring!
We can send notes, art, pics to his mother. We can record stories for his brother which can be e-mailed. There will be a Memorial in around a week in Virginia. We can have a lil’ gathering of local friends.
We “Lovin You” Dickie!!!
💜Elisa
PS: This is improv, no structure to it. Maybe just go around the circle, anyone sharing what they wish. Holla if U wanna collab, have ideas, visions. Thank U!
In the dead of night, UC moved on the park — barricading city streets, blocking access to sidewalks, and fencing the park. Protected by riot police, heavy equipment was brought in. Peaceful protesters sat in front of that equipment to keep the park open and prevent further deforestation of the trees, which UC last did in 2018. People peacefully demonstrated against the heavy machinery and destruction of the trees. They had already witnessed the changing climate in the park after much of the east side forest was demolished by UC just a few years before. Students — of UC Berkeley, local colleges, and high schools — and other community members, including Berkeley neighbors and former residents of the park were outraged by the violent closure and destruction of this community resource.
The university has presented the project as an all-or-nothing: either people will sleep in squalid conditions on the street, or they will build housing on the park. This is a false dichotomy. The park is a vibrant community center, park and recreation space — one of the few accessible and open to everybody, including the poor who suffer within a rapidly gentrifying East Bay. Hundreds of people use the park daily, gathering to play basketball or music, to share food, and community. None of these resources are preserved in the university’s plans, which would turn our park into a sterile dorm lawn. Maximo Martinez Commons is a courtyard just one block north and similar to the one proposed for People’s Park. When was the last time you or your friends used that space?
We need People’s Park to remain a community-run, user-developed and user-defined park. That is why dozens of community groups — such as the Berkeley Student Cooperative, the largest non-profit provider of affordable student housing in the city — stand with People’s Park in opposition to the university’s plans. Homeless advocacy groups such as Consider The Homeless, Berkeley Outreach Coalition, Suitcase Clinic, Berkeley Free Clinic, Berkeley Copwatch, and others stand in solidarity with the park defense.
The UC Regents actually refused Capital Strategies’ attempt to have a $53 million contingency fund available for crowd control, and unforeseen relocations of new residents, and other circumstances in the demolition of People’s Park. Those millions could instead be spent acquiring land for supportive housing sites right in Berkeley, or adding additional housing on a site recommended by the Chancellor’s Housing Commission. And what about the Ellsworth garage, equally close to campus, which has to be demolished due to earthquake danger? In their survey not long ago, 92% of undergraduates did not rank People’s Park as their top site for housing development. If building housing was the university’s top priority, they could have already begun construction on a different site equally close to campus.
Over decades, the UC has approached the park with malice and destructive intent. In spite of this, people have stewarded the land and grown more gardens, community, and lifelong relationships. For 53 years, every time the fences have gone up, they’ve come down! People’s Park is not just some empty real estate lot. People’s Park remains a user-developed park, open for everyone to gather, host events, or hang out and have lunch. Nothing has changed. Come out and see for yourself. We will rebuild once again. Help repair the park according to your own desires. Re-connect with the land!
“Demand the impossible, defend People’s Park!” A rousing exhortation, by Osha Neumann, whom Caroline Casey hosts this hour: The tale of People’s Park in Berkeley – 1969 to now… humming…in ardent pertinence to our plight… Devastation into which flows Community Participation; destruction makes its move again, again – the garden roots and bloom and here we are. Honoring Parks…
By Osha Neumann, in Berkeleyside August 12, 2022, 10:46 am
I thought it was hopeless to try to defend People’s Park. But then, on Aug. 3, in the early morning hours, park defenders tore down fences UC Berkeley erected to begin construction on student housing, reoccupied the space and sat in front of the big yellow front loaders and excavators. That evening, they held a rally and as I listened to them speak I realized: They are the ones who will determine what is hopeless and what is not.
Each person who spoke expressed the need to protect open and unpatrolled space, a place for trees to grow large, and for housed and homeless people to gather and share what they have in common. They mourned that they had not been able to prevent the university, in its first act that morning, from cutting down a grove of redwoods, some with trunks 3 feet in diameter. Homeless people, who had sheltered in their shade, spoke of them as friends they had lost.
In the 60s, we had a slogan: “Be realistic, demand the impossible.” Today’s People’s Park defenders are demanding the impossible: That the park’s 2.8 acres be recognized as “commons,” a space that no one owns or controls. That was the vision in ’69. That’s their vision now.
It has come to my attention that you could consider suspending the city’s policy against the use of tear gas, smoke and pepper spray for the duration of the City Council recess. The irresponsibility of putting an action like that in place during a time when the council can not act and respond to the situation is extremely irresponsible if not criminal.
I can only imagine you are considering it under the pressure of your UC controllers to encourage them forward in their attack on People’s Park and the People of Berkeley. The folly of the plan to try to build on People’s Park is evident. It has been an immoral and blatantly classist and racist assault against one of the few refuges in the City in which all people are served. The response of the people should not be a surprise to you. Building on People’s Park is a direct attack against a lot of people, some with nothing to lose. If UC or Berkeley truly wants housing, you will build it elsewhere. There is no scenario where putting a dorm on People’s Park could possibly go smoothly.
Now it’s in your hands. Do you want your legacy to be a bloodbath for this folly? UC creates the problem of scarce housing by admitting unsustainable numbers of students and then pretends to solve the problem they created. Well I’ll let you in on a little secret. People’s Park is a tar baby. The more you attack it the more stuck you will be covered in the tar of the evil of attacking the poor, the environment and our hopes and dreams.
Maybe with enough money, force, police, overtime, added expenditures, fences and ill will the University can cram in something. But it will never rest peacefully there. I suggest you don’t commit to protracted war on the poor of your city. You can not win. You will create more poverty and pain and devastation that will continue to ripple out.
There is a righteous stand to take here. Gus Newport did the right thing when he refused to allow the City of Berkeley Police Department be the ground troops for UC’s bad plan in 1979. The City has prohibited attacking peaceful protesters with chemical weapons for a reason. It is immoral.
History will remember the decisions you make. Peace can be made. A dorm can be built on the Parking Lot of Ellsworth and Channing. But it will take legislators of conscience and intelligence to take leadership and bring our town back to peace.
Please do not put swords into the wannabe overlord’s arsenal to slaughter your city while you are on vacation. Please do the right thing. People’s lives are at stake and you must be responsible now.
Thank you, Terri Compost
Terri Compost is a long-time Berkeley People’s Park community organizer, gardener, educator.
UPDATE: Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin has canceled tonight’s meeting described below, perhaps he’s getting some spine or he’s just worried about national media attention. He tweeted: “Mtg cancelled. Policy stands and shame on the Sheriff for not guaranteeing mutual aide emergency support to Berkeley because he disagrees with our tear gas ban.”, in a Twitter thread that tagged Berkeleyside and others.
The Berkeley City Manager has requested to allow use of tear gas, smoke and pepper spray while City Council goes on sumer vacation, so the Berkeley City Council just called a Special Meeting for Thursday August 4, 2022 8:15 PM. The one agenda item is:
Discussion and possible action regarding the temporary suspension of the June 9, 2020 policy prohibiting the use of tear gas, smoke and pepper spray for the duration of the City Council recess.
Call in and demand the council does NOT allow this violent City Manager’s wish.
Thursday, August 4, 2022 City Council Special Meeting at 8:15 PM – (8:15 in the evening)
AGENDA: 1. City Manager – Discussion and possible action regarding the temporary suspension of the June 9, 2020 policy prohibiting the use of tear gas, smoke and pepper spray for the duration of the City Council recess.
This is a transparent attack on the people power that tore down the fence at People’s Park. Please call in and express your thoughts to stop these attacks on people trying to stop the destruction of People’s Park by UC Berkeley.
Note: This post will have ongoing updates. Last updated 1:52 PM August 3, 2022
August 3, 2022, 1:45 AM
Police Closing People’s Park Under Cover of Darkness, August 3, 2022
UC is moving on the park NOW! Please go to the park if you’re able, and let others know! Word from the park (as of 12:15am) is that surveillance light towers, fences are going up
They’re closing off Dwight. Towing cars. They’ve got Hillegass and Regent blocked off at Dwight with low portable fencing. The surrounding cars are being towed to another lot ‘to prevent possible damage from protesters’. This is it.
August 3, 2022, 3:13 AM
Light towers were about to be unloaded. Looks like UC is about to fence off the park. If you can make it down, please do. Text SAVETHEPARK to 74121to get notifications.
Sorry to share yuck news but it’s all about our resistance to it at this point.
August 3, 2022, 6:22 AM
In a deeply courageous moves of non-violent civil disobedience to stop the destruction of People’s Park, Berkeley community members are sitting and moving beneath heavy equipment suspended from cranes trying to install surveillance lighting.
Non-Violent Civil Disobedience to Stop Construction on People’s Park, Early morning August 3, 2022Non-Violent Civil Disobedience to Stop Construction on People’s Park, Early morning August 3, 2022Non-Violent Civil Disobedience to Stop Construction on People’s Park, Early morning August 3, 2022
Construction industry with police aid destroys People’s Park, August 3, 2022, an act of profound and long lasting damage to the Berkeley community. This opportunistic profiteering for the few, despite several other sites where housing could be built.
August 3, 2022, 7:32 AM
People’s Park Protectors Needed! The police are in the park with bulldozers and they have blocked off Haste and Dwight.
“If Roesch did not sign the order, then UC is in clear violation of the stay, which is actually really bad for them. The other part of this is the return of the students. I expect that they are slowly filtering back into town. Keep up the resistance! The more students there are around, the better it is for us.” — A long-time People’s Park contributor
August 3, 2022,9:54 AM
The National Lawyers Guild is on site at People’s Park and was aware of 7 arrests, 3 released, and no information on the other 4. If anyone has info, please call them: 415-285-1011.
August 3, 2022, 11:19 AM
“Lawyer Phil Bokovoy says that UC has no legal authority or right to close off city streets. At any blockade of a city street you can demand that those stopping your passage show or cite their authority to stop you. If they have none you are entitled to use that street. That may be true for sidewalks also, which is where the fence is bolted down so that may be illegal also.” — A long-time People’s Park contributor
August 3, 2022, 12:38 PM
Protesters shaking the fence during destruction of People’s Park by UC Berkeley, August 3, 2022Trees destroyed and fencing going up around People’s Park, August 3, 2022Trees destroyed in Northeast corner of People’s Park, August 3, 2022
August 3, 2022, 1:13 PM to 1:22 PM
West side trees destroyed by UC Berkeley in People’s Park, August 3, 2022
Westward view of People’s Park destruction, August 3, 2022
Park destruction equipment on basketball court of People’s Park, August 3, 2022
The great palm tree destroyed by UC Berkeley in People’s Park, August 3, 2022
UC Berkeley’s fencing torn down by People’s Park defenders, August 3, 2022
UC Berkeley’s fencing torn down by People’s Park defenders, August 3, 2022
West side People’s Park trees destroyed by UC Berkeley, August 3, 2022
Trees destroyed by UC Berkeley in East side of People’s Park, August 3, 2022
Redwoods and other trees in Northwest corner of People’s Park destroyed by UC Berkeley, August 3, 2022
Trees destroyed by UC Berkeley in Northeast corner of People’s Park, August 3, 2022
Media workers reporting on UC Berkeley’s destruction of People’s Park, August 3, 2022
Berkeley community and students witnessing UC Berkeley’s destruction of People’s Park, August 3, 2022
Note: This post will have ongoing updates. Last updated 1:52 PM August 3, 2022
Video and photos note: Please document the activities in the park, police, fencing, etc. This is a historically significant event. When documenting activities in the park with cell phone video cameras, please turn the camera horizontallybefore recording for better video and photos.
5 PM: Rally at Martin Luther King Civic Center Park, March to People’s Park (~ 1 mile)
7:30 PM: Live music and BBQ at People’s Park
UC Berkeley has started taking over People’s Park, a historic center of community, resistance, and mutual aid. March with us to reclaim the space and tell the UC: NO DEVELOPMENT ON PEOPLE’S PARK!
Sign up and volunteer for the march: tinyurl.com/ParkMarchVolunteer
(January 31, 2022) – A coalition of community groups filed a lawsuit to fight the secret, illegal agreement that the City of Berkeley signed with UC Berkeley — giving UC Berkeley a blank check for unfettered growth. The agreement, signed in July 2021, prevents the City of Berkeley from filing any further legal action against UC Long Range Development Plan (LRDP) and withdrew the city’s objection to the destruction of several historic buildings and to the eviction of tenants from their rent controlled homes.
Three community organizations — Make UC a Good Neighbor, People’s Park Historic District Advocacy Group (PPHDAG) and People’s Park Council (PPC) — amended their Petition on January 20, 2022 that challenges the City of Berkeley’s agreement with UC Berkeley regarding their LRDP. The Petition alleges the vote on the agreement violates the requirements of the Brown Act, which mandates local government to conduct business at open and public meetings.
“The residents of Berkeley will be saddled with this onerous agreement long after the Mayor, Chancellor, City Council members and Regents are gone from their positions. The basic principles of open government have been shamelessly tossed aside for purposes of political expediency,” according to Harvey Smith, member of the People’s Park Historic District Advocacy Group.
The agreement prevents the city from taking legal action against the LRDP for the next 16 years. Although the city’s own analysis estimated UC Berkeley costs the city $21 million per year, the agreement will pay the city only $4.1 million per year, 20 cents on the dollar. Therefore, over the 16 years Berkeley taxpayers will be responsible for covering a deficit of over $250 million. Three other cities hosting UC campuses have negotiated much more favorable agreements, including the mandatory production of student housing.
The lawsuit cites the action of the Berkeley City Council to conclude “a secret agreement in closed session, never acknowledged, approved or disclosed in public session.” The Petition to the court also cites Measure L, an ordinance passed by Berkeley voters in 1986, which mandates “That wherever public parks and open space currently exist in Berkeley, such use shall continue and be funded at least to allow the maintenance of the present condition and services.” The agreement violates voter-approved Measure L by collaborating in the destruction of People’s Park, a user-developed and community-controlled open space in the South Campus area of Berkeley.
Additionally cited is Measure N, approved by voters in 1988; the secret agreement is described as running “afoul of the intent and aspirational policies set forth in Berkeley Measure N,” which requires the city to “use all available lawful means to ensure that public agencies abide by the rules and laws of the city and that these agencies pay taxes and fees, comparable to those paid by private citizens and business to support their fair share of city services.”
Although the Berkeley City Council had also resolved on multiple occasions to support tenant rights, and specifically the interests of tenants evicted from 1921 Walnut Street, Berkeley, the agreement bound the City “to not challenge the upcoming 2021 LRDP and UC’s Anchor House [1921 Walnut Street] and People’s Park housing projects.”
The lawsuit further stipulates that the City through its agreement with UC will “induce, aid and assist” in destruction of People’s Park as a student and community park and open space and has collaborated in breach of contract by UC Berkeley. “UC has breached its mutual commitments, promises, and written contracts with responsible People’s Park organizations,” which are included in Exhibits A through L of the Petition.
