Photo of the month: Berkeley garbage truck fire snarls North Shattuck traffic
Share your photos for a chance to be featured in the monthly recap. |
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The contents of a garbage truck caught fire on an otherwise quiet Saturday morning, filling the air with smoke and causing the truck to dump its load in one of Berkeley's busiest neighborhoods. Readers were quick to submit dramatic photos. (See full photo credits in the original story.) |
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Reader comments: Berkeley hopes new budget strategy will curb rising costs
This May 19 story detailed the Berkeley city budget proposal ahead of next week's vote. Here are just a few of the reactions. |
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 TBS |
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“The persistent budget deficit is caused by persistent overspending.”
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| TBS |
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“We need more traffic enforcement and action against gangs/drugs. Not less.”
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| TBS |
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“The city government has yet to realize that we do not have an obligation to house every indigent person who crosses our city limits.”
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 Reddit |
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“If Berkeley didn't have a housing deficit (9k units) the city would be running a healthy surplus from all the property tax that it should be collecting.”
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 Nextdoor |
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“City of Berkeley has among the fewest residents per city employee. Cutting 1/4 of city staff is the obvious place to start.”
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| Nextdoor |
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“Cutting emergency services is non-negotiable! We barely have what we need as it is!”
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April poll results
Our April poll asked readers whether we should keep comments open to all logged-in subscribers. A one-month pilot test resulted in more comments, more subscribers and more engagement.
In our effort to consider next steps, we asked for your feedback: Should comments stay open? The results were overwhelmingly in favor:
Yes
87%
No
13%
We received 123 responses, the most of any monthly poll so far this year!
We plan to reopen comments as a result of your input. If you have other feedback, just reply to this email. |
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Take our latest reader poll
In May, Berkeley introduced the proposed city budget, which includes a built-in assumption that a 0.5% sales tax increase will be approved by voters in November, generating about $10 million annually for the city. If it fails, officials will have to come up with a different solution after the election.
What do you think about Berkeley's efforts to right-size the budget through this across-the-board cost-cutting exercise? Do you intend to vote for the sales tax increase?
Answer this month's reader poll and respond to this email with your feedback about this year's budget process.
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| Take the sales tax poll |
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