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Diane Tokugawa

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Jul 1, 2026, 11:53:09 AMJul 1
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Diane

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Subject: District 5 July Newsletter
Date: July 1, 2026 at 8:32:57 AM PDT

 
Hello Diane,

With the dreadful June Gloom finally gone, I’m overjoyed to greet the sunny and hot summer weather I look forward to all year long. I’ve been reveling in my favorite season with frequent visits to Monterey Market to buy as many varieties of stone fruit as possible, sometimes consuming a perfectly ripe peach or plum directly outside the store’s exit.  

This year’s summer solstice was especially wonderful because, in addition to it being Father’s Day, we celebrated Berkeley’s first annual Make Music Day, which was a real treat and the start of what I hope will become a joyous annual solstice tradition for us. 
My husband Tim and I participated by joining in a kazoo band set up by a neighborhood group, which was silly, connective, and a ton of fun. The entire Make Music Day experience was a welcome break from the stress of working to pass our city budget, which we did last Tuesday evening. As difficult as it was, I’m happy to announce that we were able to unanimously pass a sustainable, responsible and balanced budget while retaining some essential Fire Department positions, allocating money to the Small Sites affordable housing preservation program, and providing funds for the Solano Stroll. More on the budget below.

While this legislative session is far from over, I think we can all breathe a sigh of relief knowing that – for now – the hardest choices are behind us. With recess quickly approaching, I look forward to having more time to connect with all of you. Meeting fellow community members and having meaningful discussions about how the city government affects your lives is one of my favorite parts of this job. 

Please keep reading for a full debrief on the budget, events, an update on Hopkins St., and happenings around town, and more. 

Warmly, 
Shoshana 
In this issue: 

  • Council Recap
  • Traffic Safety: Walnut and Cedar Site Visit
  • Old Oxford School Site
  • Hopkins Street
  • Don’t Miss the North Shattuck Block Party
  • Interested in Serving on a City Commission?
  • Join the Meet 6 Neighbors Challenge
  • Become a Neighborhood Organizer
  • Already have a Neighborhood Group? Let’s Connect.
  • Blood Drive
  • Library Events
  • City Events

Council Recap

FY27-28 Adopted Budget: On June 23, the Berkeley City Council passed a budget that addressed a $30 million deficit. Passed unanimously, this budget required a departure from previous years – during which the Council passed a budget that was technically balanced but still heavily relied on one-time fixes.

 

Past budgets failed to address the real problem: every year, the City’s costs rise at a rate that outpaces its revenue. Addressing this imbalance in a sustainable and responsible way required hard choices which unfortunately included layoffs, the elimination of vacant positions, and cuts to city services that people rely on.

 

While this budget is far from perfect, I’m proud that we managed to preserve funding for the most essential services. Most importantly for District 5 residents, we found funding to save 9 Fire Department positions: 5 Firefighters, 3 Paramedics, and a Fire Inspector. We also secured funding to ensure that Fire Station 4 on Marin Ave. can remain open until (hopefully!) the Sales Measure Tax passes in November, which would provide us with enough ongoing revenue to take the possibility of it closing off the table.

 

Once available, information regarding the adopted budget will be found here. 

Sales Tax Measure: The City Council also officially approved putting the Sales Tax Measure on the ballot. Expected to raise around $9 million a year, the Sales Tax Measure would raise the sales tax by half a cent, bringing Berkeley’s sales tax rate up to current level in nearby cities such as Oakland, Albany, and many more.

General Obligation Bond: The City of Berkeley maintains 475+ miles of sidewalks, 213 miles of street, 255 miles of sewer mains, 56 parks, 63 play areas, 95 buildings, and so much more. With $1.65 - $2 billion in unfunded infrastructure and deferred maintenance, the need is great and resources are limited.

That’s why the City has also decided to place a $300 million bond on the November 2026 ballot to fund repairs and improvements to city parks, infrastructure, recreation and emergency response facilities, and more.  

Traffic Safety: Walnut and Cedar Site Visit

Last month, Councilmember Tregub and I joined Public Works staff for a site visit of Walnut and Cedar in response to ongoing safety concerns raised by residents. The intersection has received a significant amount of attention during my time in office due to a high volume of near misses and dangerous traffic conditions, and a recent incident where a senior citizen was seriously injured after being struck by a car crossing the street. Public Works was very generous with their time and listened carefully to the experiences and ideas of concerned neighbors. They are taking these concerns seriously, actively assessing the intersection, and discussing potential next steps. We will be sure to share any updates in future communications. 

Old Oxford School Site

Over the last several weeks, we’ve received many emails from folks expressing both curiosity and concern over the newly proposed development at 1130 Oxford. 

​The plan consists of 31 new single family homes – 8 on Walnut, 8 on Oxford, and 15 on a new street between Oxford and Walnut, which will also have a central plaza of approximately 7,000 SF (roughly the size of BART Plaza). The design also includes a pedestrian path connecting Oxford School Way to the new plaza. Many final design details are still being worked out. Demolition plans and site work plans are also being finalized. Panoramic Interests, the developer who bought the site, will keep neighbors apprised of when work will begin.  

Because the project has applied under certain new state laws allowing for development of subdivided lots, it is likely subject to ministerial approval, which means that there will be no public hearings. That said, the developer has held two meetings with neighbors and concerned residents to answer questions and receive feedback. If you’d like to be notified of future meetings, should they be organized, please contact my office and I can put you in touch with the organizers. 

Hopkins Street 

On July 28, the Berkeley City Council will hold a Special session to discuss the future of Hopkins Street. As you may know, earlier this year, Councilmember Kesarwani and I introduced an item (page 9) to initiate the paving of Hopkins with significant pedestrian safety improvements. However, at the April Facilities, Infrastructure, Transportation, Environment, and Sustainability (FITES) Committee meeting, committee members recommended that the item not pass unless amended to include bike infrastructure. 

Given the current makeup of the City Council, I don’t believe that my original item will garner the 5 votes required to pass. So, I am now working with my colleagues to find agreement on a compromise that can pass. I remain extremely concerned about the potential loss of parking spaces in the commercial section of the street, as well as along King Park, and am fighting to make sure whatever design is proposed retains as much of it as possible. My focus remains on getting Hopkins repaved with needed safety improvements, and without allowing Council disagreement to delay this long-overdue project any longer. You can check here closer to July 28 for more information. 

On July 7, the City Council will also consider the 5-Year Paving Plan. Currently, that includes setting aside funding for Hopkins to be paved in FY 2028. If you agree that paving Hopkins St. should be a near term priority for the City, please consider attending the meeting in person or via zoom – we are unfortunately expecting opposition. You can find the agenda and information about participating here. 

Don't Miss the North Shattuck Block Party

Saturday, July 25 | North Shattuck & Rose Street, Berkeley CA

Celebrate summer at the annual North Shattuck Block Party, a free, all-ages street party. Enjoy live music, artisan vendors, local food and drink, California wine, craft beer, family activities, lawn games, and shopping from neighborhood businesses. The event showcases the vibrant community, culture, and culinary destination known as North Berkeley's historic and charming North Shattuck district.

Keep updated by visiting the North Shattuck website.  

Intrested in Serving on a City Commission? 

Serving on a Board or Commission provides an opportunity to make a meaningful impact in your community, while learning more about the inner workings of City government. Work with other passionate individuals, help shape policy, and bring your perspective to the table. 

My office is currently looking to fill several Commission seats including: Commission on the Status of Women,Transportation and Infrastructure Commission, Homeless Panel of Experts, Solano Avenue Business Improvement District, Fair Campaign Practices Commission/Open Government Commission. Please reach out to my office at sok...@berkeleyca.gov or fill out our Commissioner Interest Form here. 

Register your Block Party for 

National Night Out!

National Night Out is being celebrated on Tuesday, August 5th. This annual event encourages our neighborhoods to build relationships with Public Safety officials, City officials, and their neighbors! You can register your gathering for free by Monday, July 20th, here. 

Join the Meeting 6 Neighbors Challenge

The Meet 6 Neighbors Challenge is a disaster preparedness campaign that encourages you to build one of the most reliable safety nets out there: your neighbors. When something happens, whether it's a small everyday emergency or a major natural disaster, your fastest response team is often the neighbors closest to you. 

The City of Berkeley Disaster Preparedness Campaign is hosting a meet up to help you complete the challenge: 


If you can’t attend the in-person event, you can still participate by signing up here. 

Become a Neighborhood Organizer

You can help prepare your neighborhood for disasters by joining Berkeley Ready’s upcoming Neighborhood Organizing Training Summer Series. By attending this session, you will learn how to start and sustain neighborhood groups that are focused on disaster preparedness. Organizations like these help build local resilience and strengthen community connections before an emergency occurs. 

I encourage you to join the following training sessions to learn more on how to organize and prepare your neighborhood.

Wednesday, July 8, 6-8 PM at West Berkeley Family Wellness Center (1900 Sixth Street)

Wednesday, August 12, 6-8 PM at West Berkeley Family Wellness Center (1900 Sixth Street)

Already have a Neighborhood Group? 

Let's Connect.

Some of the most interesting and productive conversations happen in small group settings – around kitchen tables, in living rooms and backyards. I am interested in connecting with more neighborhood groups to hear directly from residents about their priorities, concerns, and ideas for the community. 

If you are already a part of an organized community group and are interested in hosting a small gathering of neighbors with me, please reach out to my office at sok...@berkeleyca.gov. 

Blood Drive

Berkeley’s Annual Community Blood Drive will be held on Tuesday, July 28th, from 12:00-5:00 PM at Congregation Netivot Shalom. You can schedule your appointment here. 

Library Events

Don’t forget to check out the Berkeley Public Library’s events calendar. Our libraries host hundreds of events a month. You can check out the full list of offerings here. 

City Events


Address: Fire Training Division, Fire Department Training Facility, 997 Cedar Street
Date: Thursday, July 9, 2026 | 6:00pm - 9:00pm


Address: 1900 Sixth St, Berkeley, CA 94710
Date: Thursday, June 4, 2026 | 12:00pm - 1:30pm




Address: San Pablo Park, 2800 Park Street, Berkeley CA 94702
Date: Friday, July 10, 2026 | 8:40pm - 11:00pm 




Address: Fire Department Training Facility 997 Cedar Street
Date: Saturday, July 11, 2026 | 9:00am - 12:00pm



Address: West Berkeley Family Wellness Center, 1900 Sixth St, Berkeley CA 94710
Date: Monday, July 13, 2026 | 10:30am - 12:00pm


Address: Ohlone Park at Hearst & Mcgee
Date: Saturday, July 18, 2026 | 8:30am - 1:00pm 




Address: Shorebird Nature Center, 160 University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94710
Date: Saturday, July 18, 2026 | 9:00am - 11:00am 





Address: Fire Department Training Facility, 997 Cedar Street
Date: Saturday, July 8, 2026 | 9:00am - 1:00pm


Address: Cedar Rose Park, 1300 Rose St, Berkeley CA 94710
Date: Friday, July 24, 2026 | 8:40 - 11:00pm


Address: Fire Department Training Facility, 997 Cedar Street
Date: Saturday, July 25, 2026 | 9:00am-1:00pm 



Address: 1640 Stuart Street, Berkeley, CA, 94703
Date: Tuesday, August 4, 2026 | 3:00pm - 7:00pm



Shoshana O'Keefe | 1320 Spruce St. | Berkeley, CA 94709 US

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