Big news — a District 1 candidate has endorsed our petition, and we're almost at 300 signatures

We have some good news to share.

Laura Babitt, a candidate for Berkeley City Council in District 1, has officially endorsed A Safe and Clean Berkeley Now! In her statement, she said:

"Berkeley needs long-term solutions that move people from the streets into stable housing, connected to comprehensive wraparound services and stronger coordination with Alameda County, the State, and our regional partners. At the same time, we cannot allow people to remain indefinitely in unsafe and unhealthy conditions... I support a clear no-camping ordinance for public spaces, paired with transitional housing, effective outreach, and streamlined coordination of services."

This is exactly the kind of support we've been hoping to build — a candidate willing to publicly champion this issue matters, especially in a district as directly affected as District 1.

We're also close to a milestone: the petition is nearing 300 signatures. That's real momentum, and it's because of everyone who has signed and shared it.

Two things we'd ask of you now:

 1. Keep sharing. If you haven't shared the petition with friends, neighbors, or colleagues in Berkeley, now's a great time. Every signature adds to the case that this is a citywide concern.
 2. Directly contact city leaders and candidates. A personal email carries real weight — more than a signature alone. If you haven't already, take a few minutes to contact Mayor Ishii, your City Councilmember, and the candidates running in your district this fall. Let them know this issue matters to you and ask where they stand.

Thank you for standing up on this. We'll keep you posted as things develop.