Fwd: The Mayor's Monthly: December 2025

[Alan Gould]

In this month's Monthly message from Mayor Ishii, out of curiosity I couldn't resist clicking on the link for Vision 2050. I also found the Small Business Spotlight on Takara Sake quite interesting:

Takara Sake USA Inc. was established in 1983, in Berkeley. The main products produced in Berkeley are the “Sho Chiku Bai” brand of sake, flavored sake, plum sake, mirin and more! Takara has taken pure snow melt from the Sierra Nevada Mountains and superior rice from the fertile Sacramento Valley, applying traditional sake-making craftsmanship and modern technology to produce a sake worthy of the Takara mark. Various products like premium sake and shochu are imported from their parent company in Japan. They also have a unique Tasting Room that was just remodeled, and a Sake Museum.

-Alan

________________________

Begin forwarded message:

From: Mayor Adena Ishii <ma...@berkeleyca.gov>

Subject: The Mayor's Monthly: December 2025

Date: December 8, 2025 at 9:53:33 AM PST

To: <adg...@comcast.net>

Reply-To: Mayor Adena Ishii <ma...@berkeleyca.gov>

THE MAYOR’S MONTHLY December 2025 WELCOME! It is hard to believe that I have just marked my first full year as your Mayor.  Time has flown by, and it has been an incredible experience so far.  As I continue to say, this has been the best job I’ve ever had! From hosting office hours and leading City Council meetings, to visiting with small businesses and touring our city facilities and programs, connecting with all of you is what I cherish most. Your individual stories, challenges, successes, frustrations, and ideas are what motivate me every day as I work to make our city a place where everyone can thrive.  You are what makes Berkeley so special, and I look forward to continuing working with and on behalf of all of you as we move forward into the new year, and beyond. As we prepare for the challenges and work ahead of us, my office will be taking a brief break over the holidays. We will be closed Monday, December 22 - Friday, January 2. Whether you will be travelling for the holidays or staying in town, I hope you are able to take some time to rest and connect with loved ones. Though our country is in very dark times, it is in the darkness you are able to see the stars.  Keep looking for the stars and find moments of joy and light to sustain you through the darkness. My entire team and I wish you a wonderful holiday season - see you in 2026! In community, Adena Ishii Berkeley Mayor IN THIS ISSUE Get to Know Your City: Department of Health, Housing, and Community Services Vision 2050 Connecting With Community Small Business Spotlight:  Takara Sake USA Inc. Call for Artists Resources:  Berkeley Holidays Community Giving Guide Green Business Certification GET TO KNOW YOUR CITY Department of Health, Housing, and Community Services Before leaving our office to teach abroad, our intern Hannah Schindel sat down with Scott Gilman, Director of the Department of Health, Housing, and Community Services (HHCS), to learn more about what services his department provides to residents. HHCS works to ensure all Berkeley residents have access to safe housing, essential health services, and community support. The department includes six divisions: the Office of the Director, Aging Services, Housing and Community Services, Environmental Health, Mental Health, and Public Health. Mental Health: Berkeley is one of the few cities in California with its own mental health department. This allows the City to directly provide certain services while also connecting residents with additional support available through Alameda County. Their services focus mainly on individuals who are MediCal recipients. Public Health: As one of only three cities in the state with its own public health division, Berkeley receives direct state funding and is responsible for disease prevention, outbreak response, immunizations, STD testing, maternal and child health programs, and vital statistics. The division also implements Berkeley’s soda tax (Measure D) and operates a school-based health center for youth. Environmental Health: This division oversees food safety, vector control, pool and spa inspections, and the regulation of tobacco, cannabis, and body art businesses. Staff conduct restaurant inspections, respond to reports about pests or wildlife, and address hazardous conditions on private property. Aging Services: Aging Services supports Berkeley’s seniors through our two senior centers, providing meals, transportation, social activities, case management, and mental health resources. Housing and Community Services: This division administers affordable housing programs, including the Housing Trust Fund, and manages funding for supportive housing and homelessness services. It also partners with the Berkeley Housing Authority on housing vouchers and runs a loan program for seniors. As Director Gilman emphasized, HHCS is a key access point for Berkeley’s safety-net programs. Whether it’s housing help, mental health support, senior services, or public health resources, the department works to connect residents with the services they need. Thank you to Director Gilman for making time to share the important work that you and your colleagues do on behalf of the residents of Berkeley! VISION 2050 & BERKELEY INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS On December 2, the City Council held a special afternoon meeting to discuss the future of Berkeley’s infrastructure, one of the Mayor’s top priorities. Mayor Ishii opened the meeting by thanking the Co-Chairs Ray Yep and Margo Schuler and the other members of the Mayor’s Vision 2050 Task Force, and was presented with their final report, Realize Vision 2050: Update to the Vision 2050 and Recommendations to Address Berkeley’s Infrastructure.  The Task Force’s long-term vision for investing in sustainable and resilient infrastructure in Berkeley set the stage for the Council’s first in a series of discussions about possible funding measures to address Berkeley’s $1+ billion deficit in infrastructure.  The City Manager’s proposal to conduct a public poll regarding an infrastructure bond included a draft bond that supports the Vision 2050 report’s recommendations. Mayor Ishii continued her focus on improving Berkeley’s infrastructure the next day during a morning visit with city maintenance staff at the Corporation Yard, and an afternoon presentation by UC Berkeley graduate students on ways to improve the City’s capital planning and public engagement with clearer information about both the City’s infrastructure efforts and deficits. CONNECTING WITH COMMUNITY Highlights from some of the special events, tours, and meetings Mayor Ishii and staff recently participated in. Mayor Ishii with Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan at a regional strategy session on homelessness. Team Ishii takes a tour at the TCHO Chocolate factory in West Berkeley. Mayor Ishii helps distribute food at Berkeley Police Department’s turkey meal giveaway for Thanksgiving. Mayor Ishii on the field at Memorial Stadium for the Cal v. SMU game - GO BEARS! Mayor Ishii helps with serving food at the annual holiday meal hosted by Insight Housing. If you or someone you know is in need of a warm meal, Insight Housing offers community meals every Monday-Friday, 3 pm - 4 pm, at the Hope Center (2012 Berkeley Way). Mayor Ishii gives opening remarks and a welcoming toast at the kickoff of the Bay Area Nikkei NextGen Initiative, hosted by Otsuki Kotaro, Consul General of Japan in San Francisco. SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT 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 2: Takara Sake USA Inc.  Mayor Ishii on a recent visit to Takara Sake USA Inc. Takara Sake USA Inc. was established in 1983, in Berkeley. The main products produced in Berkeley are the “Sho Chiku Bai” brand of sake, flavored sake, plum sake, mirin and more! Takara has taken pure snow melt from the Sierra Nevada Mountains and superior rice from the fertile Sacramento Valley, applying traditional sake-making craftsmanship and modern technology to produce a sake worthy of the Takara mark. Various products like premium sake and shochu are imported from their parent company in Japan. They also have a unique Tasting Room that was just remodeled, and a Sake Museum. It is Takara’s hope to introduce the public not only to different types of sake but also to Japanese culture through their facilities. Takara Sake USA Inc. 708 Addison Street Wednesday - Friday | 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm Friday & Saturday | 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm RECOMMEND A BUSINESS TO SPOTLIGHT IN A FUTURE NEWSLETTER CALL FOR ARTISTS Mayor Ishii is seeking artwork from the Berkeley creative community to be displayed in her office! Work must celebrate the theme of Berkeley's regenerative culture, whether that is renewal, material reuse, or the art of giving new life. As we approach the new year, we ask our creatives: How does Berkeley’s re-use culture, conscious consumption, and environmental awareness implicate itself within your work? All mediums and backgrounds are welcome. Applicants must be connected to the Berkeley community. Selected works will be showcased in the Mayor’s office and considered for cash prizes and public recognition. Deadline for submissions: Wednesday, December 31, 2025 Visit tinyurl.com/IshiiArt25 to learn more and make a submission. RESOURCES Berkeley Holidays Community Giving Guide The Berkeley Holidays Giving Guide is your one-stop destination for spreading joy and giving back this holiday season! Instead of searching for the perfect gift, discover inspiring ways to support the Berkeley nonprofits that make our community thrive all year long. From Human Services and Education to Health, Arts & Culture, the Environment, and Animal Welfare, each organization in this guide offers a chance to make a meaningful difference. Whether you give in honor of someone special or simply from the heart, your generosity helps brighten the season — and our city — for everyone. Green Business Certification Did you know that 80 businesses across Berkeley are certified green businesses?  The City of Berkeley, in partnership with the California Green Business Network, offers free assistance to local businesses to help them reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve energy efficiency, conserve water, and divert solid waste from the landfill.  Benefits for certified Green Businesses include: Free sustainability consulting from a team of experts    Advice for business improvements to improve employee health and productivity, and save money Information on quantifiable metrics to verify environmental impact  Access to a community of like-minded, local business leaders Use of the Green Business logo in marketing materials Listing in the California Green Business Network directory Annual recognition from the City of Berkeley To get started, register on the Green Business Network website and you will be contacted regarding next steps. If there are events or resources you would like the Mayor's office to share, please email mm...@berkeleyca.gov. Instagram                   Bluesky                   Facebook                 Website View email in browser Berkeley Mayor Adena Ishii · 2180 Milvia Street, 5th Floor · Berkeley, CA 94704 · USA