FriendOfBerkeley.com |
Berkeley, CA Archive of local public decision-making. |
| Passionate but well-substantiated accounts of public decision processes in which the author has participated or which (i.e. BART) the author reveres. Vigils concerning decisions pending (i.e., BRT in Berkeley.) Documents pertinent to still-born decision processes. "Pre-emptive concern addressing" defined. This site is maintained by Bruce Wicinas | |
 |
BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) Decision History"A History of the Key Decisions in the Development of Bay Area Rapid Transit." McDonald & Smart, 1975. .pdf; 32 mbytes.A "must-read" for anyone interested in once-in-two-generation, unprogrammed public decision-making on regional scale. Also of interest to transportation planners. Never before available except as request for photocopy from the National Technical Information Service, this document has languished in a file cabinet at the BART system library since 1975. |
|
Berkeley Unified School District Decision Histories 2
Episode two of a ten-year process.
How did Berkeley Unified School District fashion its present (2004) somewhat renowned classroom balancing scheme?
From 1999 through 2002 the District retraced in a competent and dignified manner the path it had traced, with less dignity and more pain, seven years earlier. |
 |
Berkeley Unified School District Decision Histories 1
In 1992 Berkeley Unified School District unfixed all the "givens" of the district - the
grade configuration, the method of classroom integration, the method of school assignment and even the physical distribution of classroom capacity - and made them subject to the Mother of All Decision Processes. Years into it, having survived tribal conflict and many wrong turns, the District came through it exhausted but with a highly viable solution. |
 |
Birth of a 100% Citizen Initiated Park
Convert an unneeded, grease-stained city-owned parking lot in a residential area into a park? Easier dreamed than done! Follow the three year story of how a neighborhood perservered and at last prevailed over resistance from the quarter least suspected - local city government.
|
 |
The founding of the Berkeley City Arts District
Coming soon. (See also Places Journal, Volume 20, Number 2, 2008 Article: Community Activism vs. Community Design) |
 |
BRT in BerkeleyThis is a long-running struggle. Much hangs on the outcome. But it is a broken process. Those in harm's way - home owners and businesses along the corridor other than speculators - are mostly not enagaged and not even aware. The zealous advocates - the mayor, city council, local "green" and "walkable city" enthusiasts, are not owners near the corridor and will suffer no personal cost. The planning establishment and transportation vendors anticipate a time of plenty and have contributed large sums toward silencing dissent. Is public money well spent and mass transportation well served by a route that duplicates that of BART? Read more! |
 |
BRT in Downtown Berkeley
"Locally preferred alternative?" Convince us! |
 |
"Memoir", the DBA Design Committee, 2003-2008
In early fall, 2003 I was persuaded by Deborah Badhia to join the DBA Design Committee. During my busy tenure we
saw presentations of downtown projects in the works, raised the alarm about BRT beginning in 2004, "daylighted" the proposal to "daylight the creek" in Center Street, wrote much about transit, parking and BART plaza, attempted to launch a civic "Downtown Visioning" exercise and design charette - until we were discouraged and depleted by DAPAC. |
 |
U.S. Closed "Pedestrian Streets"
(Incomplete study.) A local grassroots movement wishes to close to vehicle traffic
the most commercially successful block in downtown, promising that closure would enhance life and activity in the downtown.. To inform the decision process the author commenced a study of the successful closed blocks in the U.S. It was intended to uncover the logic by which a few closed blocks have succeeded but hundreds have failed and re-opened.
(for Downtown Berkeley Association, 11/2006) |
 |
Center Street 3D Models(3D modeling study.) A local grassroots movement proposed to depave, trench and add flowing water to the most commercially successful block in downtown. No drawings or diagrams of the proposal had ever been produced. The author suspected that everyone's personal visioin of the idea varied from the reality of the dimensions of the street and adjacent buildings. This study aimed to give a sense of the pedestrian experience of the proposed ravine. (for Downtown Berkeley Association, 10/2006) |
 |
DBA: "Visioning a Downtown"Berkeley contains far more than its share of opinions and of talented people. But the population is of many mind. How can a fresh and mobilizing vision for downtown be harvested? (Proposal. For Downtown Berkeley Association, 8/2005) |
 |
BHS Milvia Street "Parking Structure"Background Document. Prepared for Downtown Berkeley Association and for Berkeley Unified School District.
|
| (Updated 5/8/09) | |