The City of Berkeley recently sent every household in the city a mailer describing the agonies it is going through as a result of a substantial budget shortfall, partially due to a reduction in state funds, and partially due to California's high—tax—induced recession. With a hole in its budget approaching $ 10 million, the city is warning us of cuts we won't like.

So why is this same city government currently seriously contemplating giving a $5 million gift (plus future lost revenue) to private developers? As with nearly every question regarding Berkeley government, the answer is ideology.

Currently, a municipally—owned parking lot is earning revenue for the city while providing critically—needed off—street parking for patrons of the merchants, restaurants, and theatres in downtown Berkeley. This parking lot would be closed, and a new 'green' building complex, supposedly utilizing 'state—of—the—art technologies such as solar power.' Perhaps more importantly, the complex would contain an office building to be named for David Brower, a Berkeley native who was the first executive director of the Sierra Club and who also founded the Earth Island Institute and Friends of the Earth. In other words, a left wing deity.

It is promised that an underground garage would 'replace' the municipal parking lot, but no on—for—one replacement of the critical parking spots is promised, and no revenue from parking fees would any longer flow to the supposedly cash—strapped city government. And during construction, hundreds of parking spaces would cease to exist. Expect restaurants and stores to go out of business as patrons travel to malls with free parking, and plenty of it.

Even worse, the new property threatens to contribute little—if—anything to municipal revenues, while drawing on city services. Most of the tenants of the Brower Center are supposedly going to be non—profit (left wing) organizations, such as the Rain Forest Network. The ownership structure could possibly be formulated so as to qualify for tax exemption. The remaining part of the project will be apartments for people at or below 60% of the Bay Area's average income level. In other words, Section 8 housing, which does use of lots of resources for municipal services, while generating precious little in the way of tax revenues.

Such an atrocious idea for raiding the municipal coffers seems likely to pass the City Council approval process with little dissent. After all, this is Berkeley, where reality always plays second fiddle to ideology.

Posted by Thomas  05 18 05