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Press Contact:
Cisco DeVries
(510) 981-7103

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 12, 2007 

Mayor Introduces Broad Proposal to Address Street Behavior Problems

‘Public Commons for Everyone Initiative’ is a comprehensive approach that includes services, enforcement, and changes to city rules and procedures. Council to discuss proposal on Tuesday.

You can read the text of the proposal here.

Berkeley, CA – On Tuesday, March 13^th, the Berkeley City Council will discuss a proposal from Mayor Tom Bates to create a comprehensive and integrated new initiative to address street behavior problems through enhanced services, clear rules for behavior in all city commercial districts, and improved enforcement.

The proposal, called the “Public Commons for Everyone Initiative,” includes a broad, citywide effort to apply an inter-departmental coordinated approach deploying mental health, social services, economic development, and law enforcement efforts to improve the overall health and climate of all our commercial districts.

“Berkeley is a tolerant and caring community, but it is increasingly clear that we need new strategies to address people who are resistant to services and causing problems in our neighborhoods and shopping districts,” said Mayor Bates.  “If adopted, this proposal will ensure that we have the services and enforcement in place to improve the overall health and climate of all our commercial districts and neighborhoods.”

The proposal addresses the physical conditions by improving streetscapes and sidewalk areas and working with local merchants to develop clear expectations for street appearances.  It addresses social conditions by improving outreach and access to services and by creating consistent community standards for public behavior – specifically addressing behaviors such as prolonged sitting and smoking in front of businesses, yelling at people as they walk along the corridor, or selling or consuming drugs.

This policy comes after the City has made a substantial investment in our commercial business districts, with a particular emphasis on improving conditions on Telegraph Avenue.  Over the course of the fiscal year, the City has allocated $420,000 for additional police, social service, and business improvement efforts for Telegraph and the downtown as well as a $500,000 supplement for economic development efforts citywide.  

The Public Commons for Everyone Initiative builds on Berkeley’s existing efforts and borrows many of the successful efforts of other cities – such as Portland, Santa Cruz, and Palo Alto – which have developed safe street programs that provide a combination of service enhancements and enforcement and present an integrated strategy for creating more viable and inviting commercial districts.     

In particular, the package is designed to create a healthy public commons by:

• Increasing opportunity and access to services for individuals in need.

• Improving the cleanliness and accessibility of the sidewalks in the commercial areas.
  
• Supporting merchants and businesses by promoting and marketing our commercial areas and creating opportunities to channel street donations to local non-profit agencies that provide resources and services to low-income populations.
  
• Strengthening links to regional programs like the Alameda County Detoxification and Sobering program and the Everyone Home efforts to end homelessness.
  
• Creating standardized and consistent policies and practices across the City’s commercial districts, and providing clear enforcement mechanisms for the Berkeley Police and the City’s social services when violations occur.

A full copy of the Council item is available on the Mayor’s website.

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