| | | | | | | I am still feeling incredibly happy after Berkeley hosted its very first Pride last weekend! It was a wonderful day filled joy, love, and connection. A special thank you to the Pacific Center for Human Growth for the hard work and organizing that went into planning this event. I would also like to acknowledge the sponsors whose support made Berkeley Pride possible, including Visit Berkeley, Downtown Berkeley Association, Berkeley Chamber of Commerce, Berkeley Art Museum/Pacific Film Archives, BART, Residence Inn, Crisis Support Services of Alameda County, and many others. Your support means so much to our community. I am already looking forward to the next Pride!
Just as students have returned to school, the weather is (finally) starting to feel more like summer! I do hope that BUSD teachers, staff, students, and families had a fun and restful summer and are adjusting well to the start of the new year. Wishing you all a successful year ahead!
Our cafes and shops are once again buzzing with new and returning UC Berkeley and Berkeley City College students. If you are new to our city, welcome! I encourage you to explore all that Berkeley has to offer beyond campus, from supporting local businesses to finding ways to get involved with your new community. I hope to meet some of you next week (August 28) in Downtown Berkeley at Welcome Home! - a special event with live music, food, and vendors to celebrate the new school year.
City Council is on recess for a few more weeks; we will resume our regular meetings on Tuesday, September 9, 6:00 pm.
Lastly, in case you missed it, read my latest op-ed about the California Fair Elections Act (SB 42) and why the public financing of campaigns is essential to strengthening our democracy.
In community, |
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| | Adena Ishii Berkeley Mayor
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| | Get to Know Your City: Planning & Development Department
Connecting With Community
Small Business Spotlight: Bongo Burger
Events Around Town
Resources: Adopt a Drain |
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| | | | What is Planning & Development? Many may know the Planning & Development Department as home to zoning regulations and building permits, but the department holds much more than that. In an interview with Jordan Klein, Director of Planning and Development, our intern Jenna Kreedman sought to dust off some of the mystery behind the department.
Planning & Development is made up of 4 divisions: Building & Safety, Land Use Planning, Office of Energy & Sustainable Development, and Toxics Management, each of which is tasked with their own goals. Director Klein describes the function of the Planning and Development Department as to facilitate the safe, healthy, and sustainable development of private property in accordance with Berkeley’s values. The Department works closely with the City Council to make sure it is aligned well with these principles and that districts are well-represented and heard in decision-making processes.
How does the department impact the everyday lives of Berkeley residents? Director Klein states that everyone interacts with the built environment on a daily basis. Whether it be walking around one’s neighborhood or commuting to work, people need to feel safe and be given access to healthy and sustainable development in order to thrive in their communities. On his top list of goals is improving customer service. Planning & Development serves thousands of clients each year seeking information, permits, and policy development. Klein wants this process to be as efficient and easy for clients as possible and believes that there is always room for improvement in system and service. Clients should be responded to promptly and worked with well. The more accessible planning resources are for residents, the more use residents can get out of the Department.
There is much more on the horizon for Planning & Development than just the city skyline. Currently, the Office of Energy & Sustainable Development is pursuing implementation of Berkeley’s Climate Action Plan, including $1.5 million set aside for energy upgrades benefitting low-income homeowners in anticipation of the Building Energy Saving Ordinance (BESO) that will be implemented through 2026. The Department has just begun working on new permitting software that will hopefully launch within the next two years, replacing the outdated Permits Online that can be tricky for residents to navigate.
Thank you to Jordan Klein for his generous time and to the hard-working, dedicated staff at Planning & Development! |
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| | CONNECTING WITH COMMUNITY |
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| Highlights from some of the special events, tours, and meetings Mayor Ishii and staff recently participated in. |
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| | Mayor Ishii with Lasara Firefox Allen, Executive Director of the Pacific Center for Human Growth, at the Berkeley Pride Festival.
The Pacific Center presented the Mayor’s Office with the People’s Pride Award. |
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| | Community Health Day in Strawberry Creek Park - Mayor Ishii with Ashley Campos, Executive Director of
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| | Mayor Ishii with Barbara Leslie, CEO Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, & Dee Johnson of Lend a Hand Foundation, at a Community Impact Session on Homelessness. |
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| | Celebrating the new marquee at The Freight - Mayor Ishii with Executive Director Clayton Shelvin and Board Chair Sharon J. Washington. |
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| | The Homemade Cafe is back! Mayor Ishii visited with owner Collin Doran. |
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| | Mayor Ishii, Alameda County Supervisor Nikki Fortunato Bas and one of the owners of El Tiny Cafe. Great coffee and conversation about working together to serve our community! |
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| | From cafes to manufacturers, Berkeley has no shortage of creative and innovative small businesses that add to the vibrancy of our city.
Continuing to shine a spotlight on some of those businesses, this month it's District 6: |
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| | | This born-in-Berkeley burger chain has been serving up delicious food at affordable prices since 1968! They offer a great selection of fresh (never frozen), pasture fed, antibiotic free beef burgers, as well as vegetarian wraps and plates.
Although they are home to the “World Famous Persian Burger,” Mayor Ishii’s personal favorite is their Black Bean Burger!
Bongo Burger 1839 Euclid Avenue
Monday - Friday | 10:00 am - 8:00 pm Saturday & Sunday | 11:00 am - 7:30 pm
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| | Stormwater Master Plan Community Meeting #1 |
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| Thursday, August 28, 2025 | 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Virtual Event via Zoom |
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| | Join Community Meeting #1 on the City’s Stormwater Master Plan to help shape how we manage stormwater and reduce flood risk in Berkeley.
At this virtual meeting, City staff and consultants will share goals, gather input, and provide an overview of upcoming planning efforts.
Learn how the plan will guide future infrastructure investments and how you can get involved. |
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| | Small Business Forum: Doing Business in Uncertain Times |
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| Wednesday, September 10, 2025 | 8:30 am - 11:00 am David Brower Center | 2150 Allston Way |
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| | Join fellow small business owners for a morning of practical insights, networking, and resources tailored to help small businesses navigate today’s economic challenges.
At the Forum you'll hear a brief presentation from Office of Economic Development staff about how we support Berkeley businesses. Then, take part in breakout sessions led by local experts on four key topic areas: Access to Capital, Disaster Preparedness, Succession Planning, and Marketing. |
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| | 49th Annual Solano Stroll |
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| Sunday, September 14, 2025 | 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Solano Avenue | Berkeley & Albany |
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| | Since 1974 Solano Avenue and the twin-cities of Albany and Berkeley CA, have hosted the Solano Avenue Stroll, the East Bay’s largest street festival! The Solano Avenue Association invites you to see what makes Solano Avenue a wonderful place. We feature over four hundred vendors including 50 entertainers, 25 food booths, 100 government and non-profit agencies, 100 artisans, jewelers, makers, and much more! |
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| | | September 19 & 20, 2025 | 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Berkeley Public Library | 3rd Floor Community Meeting Room | 2090 Kittredge Street |
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| | Friends of the Berkeley Public Library invite you to their BIG Book Sale!
Tons of books, CDs, and DVDs will be sold, mostly for 50 cents each. There will be a large variety available, including fiction and non-fiction, for all ages and interests.
Sales will support Berkeley Public Library’s free Community Programs.
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| | | Berkeley Sun Day Celebration |
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| Sunday, September 21, 2025 | 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm Willard Clubhouse & Park | 2720 Hillegass Avenue |
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| | Join neighbors, local leaders, and community partners for a joyful, hands-on celebration of clean energy and climate action—right here in the East Bay!
Sun Day is not your average climate event. It’s playful, practical, and powered by community. Whether you're a renter curious about switching to electric, a homeowner looking to go solar, or a parent seeking fun family activities, Sun Day is for you.
Let’s make clean energy feel local, doable, and joyful. Bring your friends, your questions—and your bike! |
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| | | | | Adopt a Drain Program
As fall is approaching and the rainy season is near, the City of Berkeley is calling for community volunteers to adopt, protect, and maintain our local storm drains.
With over 9,000 storm drains in Berkeley, your help is vital in keeping these systems clean and debris-free. Not only does it prevent drain blockages and street flooding, but it also reduces pollution in the San Francisco Bay and local rivers.
Get Involved and make a difference!
All residents interested in this opportunity are welcome! Youth under 18 are also encouraged to apply with the approval and signature of a parent or guardian.
Each volunteer can adopt up to two storm drains through the Adopt-a-Drain program. Simply start by choosing a storm drain near you, give it a personalized, fun nickname, and start making a difference in your community.
Responsibilities: Checking the drain regularly, especially before and after storms. Keep it clean and well-maintained by removing visible trash. Disposing of those trash into bags and garbage cans.
Need supplies?
No supplies, no problem! All materials for maintaining the drains are available upon request through email at adopt...@berkeleyca.gov.
Let’s work together to keep our city streets clean and safe during this upcoming rainy season! |
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| If there are events or resources you would like the Mayor's office to share, please email mm...@berkeleyca.gov. |
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Berkeley Mayor Adena Ishii · 2180 Milvia Street, 5th Floor · Berkeley, CA 94704 · USA
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