Frances Dinkelspiel

1 month ago | berkeleyside.org | Frances Dinkelspiel

Karen Friedman has spent four consecutive Saturdays outside the Tesla dealership on Fourth Street to protest what is happening to the U.S. government. On March 22, the Berkeley resident held up a sign stating, “You’re Fired! Send Musk and Trump on a one-way ticket to live with Orban in Hungary’s hell.”Other signs at the 200-person-strong demonstration conveyed similar sentiments. “Get Elon Out of Washington Now!” read one. “Tesla Chainsaw Massacre,” read another.

1 month ago | berkeleyside.org | Frances Dinkelspiel

A peaceful protest outside the Tesla dealership turned ugly on Saturday when a Trump supporter on an electric bike was confronted by protesters and whipped out a stun gun to ward them off. A Berkeleyside reporter was at the scene of the altercation and witnessed electrical sparks coming from the stun gun a number of times. No one was actually zapped, the people targeted told Berkeleyside. Berkeley police arrested Rick Fuze, 33, of Berkeley, who owns an e-bike repair shop on University Avenue.

2 months ago | berkeleyscanner.com | Emilie Raguso |Frances Dinkelspiel

The recent arrest of a student on the Berkeley High campus sparked a protest this week and surfaced concerns from some about the ongoing police presence at BHS. After the arrest, school administrators prohibited Berkeley police from entering campus without express permission, a school staffer told The Scanner on condition of anonymity. "They are allowed to patrol the perimeter but not allowed to enter campus unless called upon by administration," the staffer said.

2 months ago | berkeleyscanner.com | Frances Dinkelspiel |Kate Darby Rauch |Emilie Raguso

The city of Berkeley pledged Wednesday night to turn its focus and resources to a homeless encampment that's been growing since January in Civic Center Park, right across from Berkeley High and the police station. Parents have been raising concerns about problematic behavior related to the camp, particularly after a man who walked out of the park grabbed a Berkeley High student on her way to school in late January.

2 months ago | berkeleyscanner.com | Frances Dinkelspiel |Kate Darby Rauch |Emilie Raguso

Editor's Note: The Scanner will periodically publish guest essays from community members on issues of concern. Today's piece was submitted by Rebecca Levenson and Diana Gordon, co-chairs of the Gender Equity and Sexual Harassment Advisory Committee for BUSD. The Civic Center homeless encampment across from Berkeley High School is a study in balancing the needs of our citizens, and calls for our leaders to prioritize — fast.