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EL CERRITO

During their Dec. 20 meeting, El Cerrito City Council thanked Councilmember Janet Abelson, who is retiring after 23 years of public service, including having served as the city’s mayor five times during her record six terms as a councilmember.

“On behalf of the city of El Cerrito, we extend the utmost of gratitude to Councilmember Abelson for her dedication to public service and to the city,” said City Manager Karen Pinkos. “She will be missed immensely on council, though we look forward to seeing Janet remain engaged with the community she loves.”

While in office, Abelson championed change on a number of key issues. Abelson’s primary legislative slant is improving accessibility in all modes of transportation; after her retirement, Abelson will continue to serve on a number of transportation committees, such as the West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee and Contra Costa Transportation Authority.

A wheelchair user since 1984, Abelson does not drive and relies completely on public transportation. With firsthand experience of the city’s infrastructure, Abelson knew the changes that needed to occur. While in office, Abelson served as a voice for her community, never forgetting the disadvantaged and disabled in her advocacy. Thanks to Abelson, low-income students in West Contra Costa County can get free bus passes through the Student Bus Pass Program.

When asked about a piece of legislation she’s most proud of, without hesitation, Abelson mentioned the 2014 San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan, in which she played a key role in pressing for a number of key divisions, including reducing parking requirements, expanding maximum height limitations for buildings and optimizing the Environmental Impact Review processes to enable future development.

“San Pablo Avenue doesn’t look the same as it did 10 years ago. There’s a lot more housing now — multifamily housing in particular — which is a very important thing because it feeds into transit accessibility,” said Abelson. “We updated the city’s transit policy for this corridor, which means that we will continue to expand public infrastructure in the future.”

— Tripepi Smith

ALBANY

City seeks applicants to serve on council advisory bodies

Get involved in local government! The city of Albany is seeking applicants to serve on advisory bodies to the City Council. Positions are vacant on all advisory bodies.

Visit the Boards, Commissions & Committees webpage at albanyca.org/government/boards-commissions-committees for more information and to complete the online advisory body application. Please note that the Planning & Zoning and Policing commissions have additional supplemental questionnaires to complete the application.

— city of Albany

BERKELEY

Help build community center for local unhoused youth

Sustainable Housing at California (SHAC) is an interdisciplinary team of UC Berkeley students working with Youth Spirit Artworks (YSA), a Berkeley-based nonprofit that provides art jobs and job training programs to unhoused youth to be an environmentally sustainable part of the solution to the Bay Area’s housing crisis.

SHAC is designing and building the Sustainability, Education and Arts Development (SEAD) Center that will anchor the expansion of YSA’s existing Tiny Home Empowerment Village for unhoused youth to house 20 to 30 additional local youth. Based on desires voiced by current Tiny Home Empowerment Village residents and input from industry experts, the SEAD Center will provide a venue for youth to study, socialize and receive professional development services while incorporating sustainable technologies and practices to reduce its environmental impact.

SHAC needs the public’s help to build the next Tiny House Empowerment Village and SEAD Center. Please support this project by donating or sharing SHAC’s GoFundMe campaign (gofund.me/7e838641) to help cover construction and material costs to bring critical housing and recreational space to unhoused youth in Oakland.

— SHAC

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