542 signers — and three things to do before November 17th

Thanks to all of you, we've passed 500 signatures and are now at 542.

Here's where things stand, and what we need this week.

1. Keep contacting the four councilmembers whose votes matter most.

The preschool buffer zone proposal from Councilmembers Kesarwani, Blackaby, and Taplin goes before Council on November 17th. It needs a majority, and these four votes are still in play. If you live in their districts, please email them directly. If you don't, a short note still helps.

District 3, Ben Bartlett — bbartlett@berkeleyca.gov
District 4, Igor Tregub — itregub@berkeleyca.gov
District 5, Shoshana O'Keefe — sokeefe@berkeleyca.gov
District 8, Mark Humbert — mhumbert@berkeleyca.gov

Two or three sentences is plenty. Tell them you support the buffer zone as a first step, and that Berkeley needs a clear, citywide policy on encampments.

2. Vote in the Berkeley Scanner poll.

The Scanner is asking readers whether they support a citywide camping ban. It takes seconds, and it's a visible measure of public opinion that city leaders and reporters can see. Please vote, and pass it on to friends and neighbors:  https://berkeleyscanner.bluelena.io/f/20

3. Read the latest news, and the reader comments.

On Monday, the Ninth Circuit ruled that Berkeley can finish closing the Harrison Street encampment, citing the public health risk from leptospirosis. The court left Judge Chen's broader disability-accommodation requirements in place for now, and set arguments on the larger legal questions for February. One judge, Patrick Bumatay, dissented in part. He wrote that Berkeley's efforts "face the ongoing threat of paralysis by judicial fiat" and that the city should have been allowed to go further.

The story is worth reading, and so are the comments below it. They show how many Berkeley residents share our concerns:
https://www.berkeleyscanner.com/2026/10/27/community/berkeley-can-close-harrison-encampment-9th-circuit-says/

Why this matters for us: the Ninth Circuit's ruling means the broader legal constraints on Berkeley remain in place for at least another few months. That makes local legislation, starting with the buffer zone on November 17th, even more important. We can't wait for the courts to solve this for us.

Please also save the date: Monday, November 17th, City Council meeting. If you can attend in person, even for a few minutes, it matters.

Thank you for staying engaged. Please keep sharing the petition. Let's see how far past 542 we can go.

— The Safe and Clean Berkeley Alliance