October 31st 2024.
Last week, a community meeting in Berkeley took a turn for the worse when a councilmember ended up filing a police report against a resident for assault. According to city staff, it's a sad reflection of the lack of civility that has become all too common at these events.
The meeting, which was held at the Berkeley Adult School, was meant to discuss the issue of missing middle housing. Councilmember Rashi Kesarwani, along with other residents and city staff, were in attendance. Everything seemed to be going smoothly until about half an hour into the meeting, when some participants began demanding a chance to speak. The situation escalated when a man approached Kesarwani, who was trying to calm the crowd, and attempted to grab the microphone from her. Rubén Hernández Story, Chief of Staff for Councilmember Terry Taplin, was also present and witnessed the incident. He later shared that Kesarwani had to shout at the man to back off, and he believes that the situation would not have escalated if Kesarwani had been a man.
The incident has since been reported to the police and is currently being investigated. Kesarwani released a statement expressing her disappointment and emphasizing the need for zero tolerance towards physical aggression at public meetings. She also expressed her sadness at the behavior of a small group of residents who disrupted the meeting with shouting and chanting.
Story acknowledged that protests are a part of Berkeley's culture, but he also noted that there has been a growing trend of aggression towards city staff and councilmembers. He mentioned that during council meetings, which are attended by police, there are barriers in place between the dais and the podium for public speakers. He also pointed out that the trend of mistreating elected officials and city staff is not limited to Berkeley, but is a national issue. He believes that blaming it solely on political parties is not a valid excuse.
According to a report by the National League of Cities, there has been a significant increase in threats towards city officials in recent years. The report cites data from Princeton University, which shows a 15% increase in threats reported in the first half of 2024 compared to the first half of 2023, and a 60% increase compared to the first half of 2022.
The toxic behavior of a small group of people not only has legal consequences for individuals, but it also affects the community as a whole. Former Councilmember Lori Droste, who is a friend and legal aid to Kesarwani, expressed her fierce protection towards Kesarwani and praised her hard work and dedication to engaging with residents. She also noted that while debate and dialogue are expected in policy making, physical intimidation and assault are not acceptable. She believes that there should be consequences for those who resort to physical aggression.
Story and Droste both agree that the disruptions at city meetings impede the city's processes and are a waste of time. Droste mentioned that the issue of missing middle housing has been on the city's agenda since 2019, but it has been continuously delayed due to public comments and discussions. This summer, the council was about to make a decision, but it was postponed to allow for consultation with local tribal leaders.
Apart from the disruptions, there are other factors that contribute to the staff crisis at city hall, such as low pay, excessive workloads, and inadequate support from supervisors. According to a 2023 Auditors report, the chaotic behavior of some community members does not make things any easier for the already struggling staff. This toxic environment not only drives staff away from their jobs, but it also discourages residents from attending meetings and voicing their opinions on important city issues. This prevents the staff from getting a complete understanding of the community's needs and wants.
Story believes that in order for the process to run smoothly, a safe space must be created where people can discuss their opinions with local officials without fear of being mistreated. He also wishes that people would see the efforts and sacrifices made by those serving on the City Council and show them the respect they deserve. After all, they all have the same goal of improving Berkeley and its community.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
