2/7 Class Discussion

What elements of future downtown Berkeley are important to me?

Safer- Get people there, attract people. If a lot of people other than crazies, it would help.
Without police on every corner. Change the demographics of the area.
Grocery store/Trader Joe’s- have attractive people without driving out disadvantaged people.
more recreation- Bowling alley
Farmer’s market- cheap.
Build tall buildings to get more people.
Night clubs- stay local
More up-scale restaurants- stay local
Hotel and museum.
Arcade for high school students at lunch.
Not too high-end or too many chain places.
Allow both independent and chain places but give tax break to independent stores.
Expand the sidewalks.
Make a law that revenues you get from development and invest in helping the homeless
Improve parking. It’s really bad.
AC Transit needs improvement- expensive.
Campus buildings on Shattuck.
Late-night dining.

What should we write about by the end of the semester?

Comparison to Palo Alto or other city
Zoning law setting the height requirement in Berkeley.
Legal implications of opening the creek.
Public investment versus private investment and developing Berkeley.
Legality of homeless people using McDonald’s as a shelter.
Legal limits on how to handle the homeless
Revising the homeless laws.
Development in context of sub-prime crisis and later impending recession.
Environmental laws require economic development.
City ordinance to keep places open later.