GameStop, Bitcoin and AMC Investments to the Rescue Berkeley’s $1.2 billion in unfunded pension and infrastructure liabilities is now a solved problem, according to the city’s Budget Director. The declaration comes after a rapid rework of the city’s investment portfolio. “Historically, our portfolio has been invested conservatively. As we recently reported, we mostly hold bonds […]
Category: Business
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Soviet Era Housing Proposed as Cost Effective Option for North Berkeley BART Development Community-based organizations “miffed” by Rent Board’s Action In a bold and decisive move to break the gridlock over residential development at the North Berkeley BART site, the Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board has put forth a proposal for a twelve story 300 unit […]
Car Rental Operators Announce Berkeley Exclusions
National rental car operators Hertz, Avis, and Thrifty have all announced new exclusions to their Bay Area rental contracts – cars may not be driven within the Berkeley city limits. “We usually have exclusions wherever safety is an issue,” said Hertz VP of Operations Carol Driver. “if you rent in San Diego, you cannot drive […]
2021 Real Estate Olympics Begins!
With COVID-induced volatility in the Berkeley housing market in full effect, the competition to claim the title of Real Estate Olympic Champion for 2021 is expected to be ferocious. Contestants include: the Rent Board, City Council, ZAB, and Berkeley Property Owners Association. A number of developers, builders, and real estate agents have also entered the […]
Fossil Fuels: a Tale of Two Cities
2020 saw two major trends in fossil fuel usage in Berkeley. On one hand, CM Kate Harrison led the Council to ban fossil fuel systems in new construction. On the other hand, she was in the vanguard supporting a surge in propane usage by suppressing enforcement against illegal RV camping on the the city streets. […]
Independent Audit Determines City Should Not Be Using Office Paper
Expert Analysis Confirms Paper Meeting Berkeley’s Standards is Nonexistent To the surprise of the City Manager, an independent audit has determined that office paper conforming to Berkeley’s stringent standards does not exist. Officials in the General Services Administration, who are in charge of procurement, had no idea of the complex rules governing office paper use. […]
City of Berkeley & BART to Offer Bitcoin Option
New Policy Aimed at Alleviating “Driving Shame” In response to driver’s demand for autonomy and a desire to avoid shaming by local residents, the City of Berkeley Parking Department and BART have teamed up to offer Bitcoin payments options at stations, metered spots and city garages. The move to cryptocurrency comes as residents express an […]
Berkeley Notify: A Powerful Tool in the Fight Against Corporate Commerce
Berkeley residents have a new tool in the fight to resist corporate commerce – Berkeley Notify. This groundbreaking application alerts the user if they come in contact with someone that has recently shopped at a store where the parent company is listed on a major stock exchange. The rollout of Berkeley Notify comes as the […]
Real-Time Cancellation Arrives in Berkeley
As pressure to rebrand institutions named after canceled historical figures, such as slaveholder presidents, continues to mount, Berkeley is positioning itself to be ready to respond to future cancellation campaigns in real-time. Digital displays are being installed in place of stonework or plaques. School and city officials will be able to rename institutions instantaneously. “For […]
Enterprising Cal Students Circumvent the Soda Tax
Taking advantage of the University of California’s independence from the City of Berkeley and looking to enhance business opportunity for students, a group of enterprising Bears has opened a drive-through beverage distribution center. Students Offering Discounted Aperitifs or (SODA) indicated the operation addressed a number of needs. “First, everyone is looking to save a buck, […]