ALERT: Berkeley, CA: 75 arrested in Telegraph Ave. Homeless Sweeps
Tom Boland (wgcp@earthlink.net)
Thu, 12 Nov 1998 11:16:58 -0400
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http://www.hotcoco.com/sitesearch/serchdex.htm [searchstring "homeless"]
FWD Contra Costa Times [Edition: WCT] 11 Nov 1998 Page A-3
TELEGRAPH CLEANUP WILL CONTINUE
Berkeley City Council approves a 68-point plan to
restore the avenue's economic, cultural health
By Chuck Squatriglia
Times Staff Writer
BERKELEY -- The latest effort to spit-shine
Telegraph Avenue has, by most accounts, worked.
Gone are the drug dealers, the homeless kids and
the dirty sidewalks plaguing Berkeley's most
famous street, swept away by an army of police and
city workers summoned by a City Council fed up
with the problem.
"It's a dramatic change," said Andy Ross, owner of
Cody's Books, a Telegraph icon. "They need to
continue whatever it is they're doing."
On Tuesday night, the City Council decided to do
just that. In an uncommon show of solidarity, it
approved a sweeping, 68-point plan to restore
Telegraph's economic prosperity and preserve its
eclectic personality.
But that solidarity was tested when debate turned
to three ordinances opposed by the city's
progressives.
Those laws would have outlawed sitting in line on
sidewalks along Telegraph and Shattuck Avenue and
barred dogs and skateboards in those areas.
Those ordinances, however, were referred to a
subcommittee for further study.
Critics argued the laws, clearly aimed at
Telegraph's homeless young adults, are unfair and
unnecessary. "We're not doing anything to solve
the problem. We're just arresting the poor and
warehousing the homeless," said Sally Hindman,
executive director of the Chaplaincy to the
Homeless.
But the plan drew more advocates than critics. UC-
Berkeley Chancellor Robert Berdahl told the
council Telegraph Avenue's decline had drawn the
attention and concern of Cal parents across the
state.
"Berkeley is gaining a reputation as an unsafe
community," Berdahl said. "The well-being of the
city and UC and our ability to recruit the best
students is at stake."
The city's plan provides more services to the
homeless, more frequent cleaning of public
restrooms and more street lights. It also would
install three police call boxes in the area.
>
Police will continue their stepped-up presence on
Telegraph, but City Manager Kim Keene is
suggesting a "wait-and-see" approach to Mayor
Shirley Dean's call for five new police officers,
which would cost the city $1.3 million.
The city's plan comes after the council, hoping to
stem dwindling revenues and prevent the loss of
several key businesses, recently told the police
to crack down on troublemakers.
Police have arrested 75 people during the last
three weeks, including 45 nabbed for drug
offenses, said police Capt. Bobby Miller. Many of
those arrested have violated "quality of life"
laws such as public intoxication, disorderly
conduct and the like, he said.
END FORWARD
-
HOMELESS PEOPLE'S NETWORK <http://aspin.asu.edu/hpn/> Home Page
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TO JOIN <http://aspin.asu.edu/hpn/join.html> or email Tom <wgcp@earthlink.net>
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FWD Contra Costa Times [Edition: WCT] 11 Nov 1998 Page A-3
<paraindent><param>right,left</param>TELEGRAPH CLEANUP WILL CONTINUE
Berkeley City Council approves a 68-point plan to
restore the avenue's economic, cultural health
By Chuck Squatriglia
Times Staff Writer
</paraindent>
BERKELEY -- The latest effort to spit-shine
Telegraph Avenue has, by most accounts, worked.
Gone are the drug dealers, the homeless kids and
the dirty sidewalks plaguing Berkeley's most
famous street, swept away by an army of police and
city workers summoned by a City Council fed up
with the problem.
"It's a dramatic change," said Andy Ross, owner of
Cody's Books, a Telegraph icon. "They need to
continue whatever it is they're doing."
On Tuesday night, the City Council decided to do
just that. In an uncommon show of solidarity, it
approved a sweeping, 68-point plan to restore
Telegraph's economic prosperity and preserve its
eclectic personality.
But that solidarity was tested when debate turned
to three ordinances opposed by the city's
progressives.
Those laws would have outlawed sitting in line on
sidewalks along Telegraph and Shattuck Avenue and
barred dogs and skateboards in those areas.
Those ordinances, however, were referred to a
subcommittee for further study.
Critics argued the laws, clearly aimed at
Telegraph's homeless young adults, are unfair and
unnecessary. "We're not doing anything to solve
the problem. We're just arresting the poor and
warehousing the homeless," said Sally Hindman,
executive director of the Chaplaincy to the
Homeless.
But the plan drew more advocates than critics. UC-
Berkeley Chancellor Robert Berdahl told the
council Telegraph Avenue's decline had drawn the
attention and concern of Cal parents across the
state.
"Berkeley is gaining a reputation as an unsafe
community," Berdahl said. "The well-being of the
city and UC and our ability to recruit the best
students is at stake."
The city's plan provides more services to the
homeless, more frequent cleaning of public
restrooms and more street lights. It also would
install three police call boxes in the area.
>
Police will continue their stepped-up presence on
Telegraph, but City Manager Kim Keene is
suggesting a "wait-and-see" approach to Mayor
Shirley Dean's call for five new police officers,
which would cost the city $1.3 million.
The city's plan comes after the council, hoping to
stem dwindling revenues and prevent the loss of
several key businesses, recently told the police
to crack down on troublemakers.
Police have arrested 75 people during the last
three weeks, including 45 nabbed for drug
offenses, said police Capt. Bobby Miller. Many of
those arrested have violated "quality of life"
laws such as public intoxication, disorderly
conduct and the like, he said.
END FORWARD
-
HOMELESS PEOPLE'S NETWORK <<http://aspin.asu.edu/hpn/> Home Page
ARCHIVES <<http://aspin.asu.edu/hpn/archives.html> read posts to HPN
TO JOIN <<http://aspin.asu.edu/hpn/join.html> or email Tom <<wgcp@earthlink.net>
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