Posted on 05/28/2006 9:55:52 PM PDT by SmithL
Desperate times call for desperate measures. It took the looming closure of much-admired Cody's Books on Telegraph Avenue for Berkeley to finally get serious about cleaning up what's become a four-block showplace for urban decay, drug dealing and homelessness -- right on the doorstep of one of the nation's most prestigious universities.
Responding to Cody's recently announced exit in July, the Berkeley City Council last week approved a package of measures submitted by Mayor Tom Bates that will provide for more cops and more social workers, streamline the permit process for new businesses and generally clean things up.
"We've had some bad times," Bates told me. "But we're not accepting what we have. We're going to do whatever is necessary to turn things around."
A laudable sentiment. But I've been hearing Berkeley officials say exactly the same since the days, almost two decades ago, when I attended Cal and lived just a few blocks from Telegraph.
Over the ensuing years, I've watched conditions in the neighborhood go from colorfully scruffy to cancerously filthy. After 41 years on the strip, Cody's says it can no longer do business there. Who can blame them?
The question is: Will the latest measures approved by the council be enough to salvage what should be Berkeley's cultural and commercial core?
"Most people feel it's only a short-term strategy," said Irene Hegarty, director of community relations at UC Berkeley. "The only thing that's going to change the area long term is economic vitality, making it a destination that people want to go to."
Indeed. But how to do that? For years, myriad proposals have floated around to resuscitate Telegraph, and each has been rejected or abandoned amid the fierce factional squabbling that's long defined Berkeley politics.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
In the late 80s I had my first Orange Julius just down the block from Berkeley's main entrance. My last too, horrible stuff. The neighborhood even them was a slum. I have difficulty picturing how much worse it could have become short of burning down.
I didn't even know that there was any kind of boycott. I just thought no one wanted to go anywhere near the place because, well... it's BERKELEY.
"one of the nation's most prestigious universities."
Sounds like it hasn't changed from when I was a street kid orphan following my drugged out older sister around back during the 60s.
I have rancid memories of Telegraph Ave. The hippie generation was Hell on Earth to me.
As Rudy Giuliani understood and a socialist like David Lazarus would never get, the one condition leads directly to the other.
My girl friend lived in Oakland on Telegraph Ave just a couple olf blocks from Grand Ave in 1968. It wasn't too bad back then ; even the black panthers didn't hassle us.
Amazingly private property cleanliness does not require bureaucracies, pep rallies and higher taxes.
Lazarus giving advice to Berkely is like Cuba helping North Korea with their economic model.
"one of the nation's most prestigious universities."
"Who are they trying to kid?"
Actually some of the departments are world class. There is a minority of radicals and kids looking for a cause.
Telegraph Ave went to hell in the 60's - and has gone downhill from there.
For the serious students there is oportunity abound. Direct links to Sandia - LRL and others.
There are some research Profs. second to none there. NutCakes do not get the opportunity to play with them.
A significant number of engineering grads go on to MIT.
With all it's problems UCB is a great educational institution for those who want to learn.
UC Davis - one of the top Vet Schools in the world.
UCSC - well that's another story - however there are still serious students there.
Yeah we have our radicals in the Bay Area - but please know that there are some good Profs. and students that avoid the crap and achieve much.
Those that are tempted by Telegraph Ave. and the radicals - well God Bless them and I hope they find their way out.
Long time Oakland Resident and UCB attendee
B
Yep. That's the ticket to cleaning up the mess -- social workers. A lib solution to a lib mess. LOL.
"one of the nation's most prestigious universities."
"Who are they trying to kid?"
If you visit the campus, the first thing you'll notice is that the predominant race is asian - clean cut, hard working kids. The whack jobs are on campus too...actually, to be more specific, they're enrolled, but they are usually hanging out on Telegraph. :)
Telegraph has been known as scumbag central for a long time, that it's any surprise to anyone is a joke. Drugs are sold openly, the homeless flock there, and teens and young adults flock there to buy cheap incense and jewelery and drugs and bongs - the section of the colored glass pipes and bongs is amazing (I don't indulge, but they're everywhere, almost every store sells them). There's also a very popular tattoo/piercing joint that attracts the usual suspects, along with several popular record stores and cafes and clothes stores and whatnot. If you're into people watching, this place is IT.
I lived in Berkeley for a while, about 10 blocks from campus, and it was the one place I felt the least secure in. Crime is rampant, and the homeless are everywhere. We learned about that the first week we moved in, when two homeless guys got into a screaming match at 3;30am in our driveway over our recycing bin. Welcome to the neighborhood! My car got broken into several times, and we lived in one of the nicer areas. My insurance was the highest there of any place I lived, including Oakland.
Yet, with all the crime, the Town Supervisors actually debated about making stop lights lavendar because red is accusatory and causes stress, and lavendar is so much more soothing. I'm NOT making this up - they were proposing it when I lived there.
This was when a homeless guy, in broad daylight, on Telegraph, pulled a butcher knife out of his jacket and killed a man at random with it. Ironically, the man volunteered with the homeless, but they don't think he knew the attacker. The response? More social workers. You could'nt pay me any amount of money to be a cop in Berkeley.
Berkeley the town is a mess. It's unsafe. But the campus? Sure, you have the freaks and leftists and whatevers and lots of tie-die and sandals, but they're surprisingly the minority - the majority just are'nt as loud. Berkeley actualy has a strong and vocal Republican club on campus.
The solution to Telegraph is one that won't happen - ban the street stalls, ban loitering, and JAIL the criminals. It's common sense, but...it's Berkeley. You leave common sense at the border, under the "Nuclear Free Zone" signs. (I love those, I wanted to steal one when I moved, but I was told you really get nailed if caught, they get stolen so much).
Who are they trying to kid?
Dude! Yes Berkeley, the city, is a leftist sumphole. And yes, there is plenty of liberal idiocy and treachery afoot at Cal. But check out anyone's listing of the world's best undergraduate engineering programs and see where Cal is.
Bezerkly
Sounds like Berkeley is following the San Fransicko model.
All is well.
When I was stationed at Alameda in the late 80's, I spent a lot of time on Telegraph. Even then, I liked to say they had teh world's most creative beggars. But crime was taking off there too. Now....damn, if they're getting excited about a WALGREENS where the trendy Gap store used to be? It must be 10 times worse than it was.
FYI:
1) I'm not a dude.
2) I live in California.
3) I've been up there and I still say "Who are they
trying to kid?"
LOL!
Thank you, J, for the ping.
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