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Diane Tokugawa

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Oct 21, 2025, 9:10:52 PM (2 days ago) Oct 21
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Diane

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Subject: District 5 October Newsletter
Date: October 21, 2025 at 5:32:41 PM PDT

 
Hello Diane,

It’s hard to believe that just a month ago, my staff and I were soaking up the sunshine and chatting with constituents at the Solano Stroll. Thank you to everyone who made it out and stopped by our booth to say hello! It was wonderful to see both so many familiar and new faces. 

This last weekend, a friend of mine was visiting from out of town and of course, I took him to the Cheese Board for lunch. At one point he looked around and said, “I see why you live here… this place is kind of perfect!” I really appreciated this observation because, while it’s certainly not literally true — there are many things here that are far from perfect — there is a unique magic to Berkeley, and — with all due respect to the rest of the city — District 5 in particular. His comment reminded me of how lucky I am to live here and to serve as the representative of my beloved community. Thanks to all of you for giving me the opportunity to have this role. And know that I’ll keep trying my best to bring us closer to making my friend’s comment a reality. 

With gratitude, 
In this issue:

  • Council Recap
  • Sun Day
  • Call for Neighborhood Groups
  • Reminder: Berkeley Corridors Zoning Update
  • Intersection Red Curbing Update
  • Berkeley Historical Plaque Project
  • Adopt-A-Spot
  • D5 Nonprofit Spotlight: The Berkeley Art Center
  • Volunteers for Marin Ave
  • Library & City Events
COUNCIL RECAP
Flock Contract Vote Postponed 
Last month, City Council was slated to approve a contract with Flock Safety for fixed security cameras throughout Berkeley. However, new information came to light that raised concerns about the security of the collected data and the risk of it falling into the wrong hands. Therefore, the City decided to postpone the vote. Personally, while I strongly support giving our police more tools to keep our neighborhoods safe, I also have concerns about whether Flock is a trustworthy partner in those efforts, and am glad that we are taking some time to make sure we get this right.

Given the recent reports of other cities’ data collected by Flock being accessed by ICE and Border Patrol, our City Manager and Police Department are working together to assess what we can do and whether another vendor may be better suited for Berkeley. I will be meeting with the CEO of Flock next week, and will continue to be in conversation with BPD about technical requirements for potential surveillance equipment. We are all in agreement that protecting our immigrant community is a priority. As this situation is still developing, I will be sure to share more as any new information comes to light. 
Last month, City Council unanimously passed the Sanctuary City Ordinance, which reaffirms Berkeley’s commitment to protecting immigrant communities and enshrines these principles into law. The ordinance also expanded on current policy by prohibiting city personnel from disclosing “protected personal information” to federal immigration enforcement and creating a new procedure for public reporting of certain requests for information or assistance made to or from federal immigration enforcement.
Earlier this week, my item, aptly named ROBOCOP, passed unanimously. The item was a response to many complaints from the community about excessive noise from a surveillance device installed at the CVS on Shattuck and Rose. Nearby residents reported being tormented by motion-activated warnings about surveillance and loitering– at all hours of the day and night. While I was able to work with City Staff to force CVS to remove the device, it took over a month to do so, largely because it was not sufficiently clear that the existing noise ordinance was being violated. My item asks the City Manager and City Attorney to draft amendments to the current noise ordinance explicitly prohibiting this type of device. Big thank you to everyone who spoke at the Council meeting to voice their support for the proposal. You can read more in Berkeleyside here. 
SUN DAY
L to R: Kera Bartlett Binns, myself, Councilmember Blackaby
I was happy to join Councilmembers Blackaby, Humbert and Tregub, as well as hundreds of community members at Berkeley’s very first annual Sun Day celebration. This event, organized locally by Kera Bartlett Binns (pictured above) is a nationwide day of mobilization that promotes renewable energy. Fun fact: Kera is also the District 5 representative on the Commission on the Status of Women. The event brought together nearly two dozen local businesses and nonprofits, each showcasing practical ways to electrify homes and modes of transportation. It was a beautiful day and I had a wonderful time celebrating the potential for a green future with my community.
 
CALL FOR NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS
Our office is putting out the call for residents who are interested in taking the lead in forming a neighborhood group, if there isn’t one in your area already. I’ve visited with a few established neighborhood groups in District 5, and am always impressed and inspired to see neighbors taking the time to get to know each other, and to organize around issues of mutual concern. Knowing your neighbors in this way can make a huge difference in an emergency, and creates a sense of community, safety and belonging for everyone. I’ve visited groups to introduce myself, discuss a particular issue, and help with disaster preparedness. It’s truly one of my favorite parts of the job. 

If you would like to create a group (which could just be as small as the folks within a block of your house), or if you’d like to connect new neighbors with your preexisting group, please let us know. I would love to attend the first meeting to help get you off the ground, and my office can also provide support for organizing the first meeting. 

Email our office at sok...@berkeleyca.gov or fill out this Google form with your information, and we will reach out to you with next steps.
 
REMINDER: BERKELEY CORRIDORS ZONING UPDATE
The City of Berkeley is considering zoning updates along three corridors: North Shattuck, College Avenue, and Solano Avenue. These important corridors are vital and lively areas that support commerce and thriving local communities. With increased housing supply, new neighbors could help support our small businesses and keep our city diverse and thriving.

The official survey is now closed. Over these next couple of weeks, the Planning Department will be reviewing the results and will post them to the project website on November 6th. 
INTERSECTION RED CURBING UPDATE
Public Works has made great progress on red curbing across the city. This is the name for the newly mandated practice of restricting parking on the 20 feet of curb on the side of the road approaching an intersection. This change has the effect of enhancing the visibility of pedestrians when crossing the street. As of last month, over half of the 1,754 intersections in our city have been red-curbed. Public Works anticipates that District 5 intersections will receive their updates by the end of October, with a goal of completing all intersections in early 2026. 
BERKELEY HISTORICAL PLAQUE PROJECT 

The Berkeley Historical Plaque Project has been dedicated to preserving and highlighting Berkeley’s history through a series of plaques around our community since 1997. A project of the Berkeley Historical Society & Museum, it’s a great way to explore Berkeley’s past while discovering new areas right in your neighborhood. You can read more about the project, find self-guided walking tours, and the collection of e-plaques here. 
ADOPT-A-SPOT
The Adopt-A-Spot program joined Public Works at the Solano Stroll last month. Adopt-A-Spot connects volunteers with traffic circles around Berkeley, creating space for neighbors to aid in maintaining and beautifying these important structures. 

I encourage you to read more and apply to be a volunteer on their city website. 
 
D5 NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT: 
THE BERKELEY ART CENTER
Last week, I was delighted to join Mayor Ishii at the Berkeley Art Center for their 2025 Community Dinner. If you missed this one, don’t forget that the BAC hosts events throughout the year. You can view upcoming events, such as Artist Conversation & Potluck in the Park on their website, here.  
VOLUNTEERS FOR MARIN AVE

We are still seeking volunteers to assist with watering the new plants once the Parks, Recreation, and Waterfront Department installs them along Marin Avenue. This change is a part of the Upper Marin Avenue Safety Improvement Project and an effort to improve sightlines along the street. 

If you are interested, please email us at sok...@berkeleyca.gov. The watering schedule will be once a month, September through May, and once a week, May to September.
LIBRARY & CITY 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. 





Address: 1900 Sixth St, Berkeley, CA 94710
Date: Wednesday, October 22, 2025 | 1:30pm - 3:00pm

Address: 1900 Sixth St, Berkeley, CA 94710
Date: Friday, October 24, 2025 | 4:00pm - 5:00pm

Address: 2050 Center St, Berkeley, CA 94704
Date: Thursday, October 23, 2025 | 12:00pm - 2:00pm

Address: Berkeley High School - 1980 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA 94704
Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025 | 11:00am - 4:00pm

Address: Tarea Hall Pittman South Branch Library, 1901 Russell St, Berkeley, CA 94703
Date: Monday, October 27, 2025 | 12:00pm - 2:00pm

Address: 2465 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, CA 94720
Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2025 | 12:00pm - 4:00pm

Address: 1939 Ward Street, Berkeley, CA
Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2025 | 12:00pm - 2:00pm

Venue: Shorebird Park
Address: 160 University Ave Berkeley CA 94710
Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025 | 10:00am - 12:00pm

Venue: James Kenney Community Center
Address: 1720 Eighth St, Berkeley, CA 94710
Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025 | 10:00am - 12:00pm

Venue: West Berkeley Family Wellness Center
Address: 1900 Sixth St, Berkeley, CA 94710
Date: Monday, October 27, 2025 | 5:00pm - 6:30pm

Venue: Frances Albrier Community Center
Address: 2800 Park Street, Berkeley, CA 94702
Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2025 | 6:00pm - 7:00pm

Address: 84 Bolivar Drive, Berkeley, CA 94710
Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2025 | 4:00pm - 5:30pm

Venue: Frances Albrier Community Center
Address: 2800 Park Street, Berkeley, CA 94702
Date: Thursday, October 30, 2025 | 4:00pm - 6:00pm

Venue: Willard Clubhouse
Address: 2720 Hillegass Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705
Date: Thursday, October 30, 2025 | 5:00pm - 6:00pm

Venue: Live Oak Community Center
Address: 1301 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94709
Date: Friday, October 31, 2025 | 10:00am - 1:00pm

Venue: Terrence McCrary, Jr. Memorial Skate Park
Address: 711 Harrison St, Berkeley, CA 94710
Date: Friday, October 31, 2025 | 7:00pm - 9:30pm
Pop-Up Exhibit Series

Address: Tarea Hall Pittman South Branch Library, 1901 Russell Street
Date: Monday, November 3, 2025 | 12:00pm - 6:00pm


Venue: Judge Henry Ramsey Jr. South Berkeley Senior Center
Address: 2939 Ellis Street, Berkeley, CA 94703
Date: Tuesday, November 4, 2025 | 11:00am - 1:00pm


Address: Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA 94702
Date: Wednesday, November 5, 2025 | 5:30pm - 7:00pm


Address: West Branch Library, 1125 University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94702
Date: Thursday, November 6, 2025 | 12:00pm - 3:00pm

Venue: Shorebird Park
Address: 160 University Ave Berkeley CA 94710
Date: Saturday, November 15, 2025 | 9:00am - 11:00am
Shoshana O'Keefe | 1320 Spruce St. | Berkeley, CA 94709 US

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