Call to action July 8-13, 2021
Basic info
City of Berkeley is negotiating with University of California. During these negotiations, City of Berkeley can save 1921 Walnut St and People’s Park if the Mayor and City Council make it part of their settlement. Worst case scenario is that the Mayor and City Council sell us out to get a quick settlement with UC.
Goal
To get Berkeley Mayor and City Council to reject any settlement with UC that doesn’t include saving 1921 Walnut St and People’s Park.
Materials
Here are posters to share via twitter/insta/etc.. or email or print out. They are .png so are good for twitter or insta.
Sample letter
Dear _____,
I know that City of Berkeley is in settlement negotiations with University of California. Please do not make an agreement without including SAVE 1921 WALNUT and PEOPLE’S PARK. We all know that you can set the terms of this settlement agreement. Do not sell out Berkeley tenants or our historic public spaces. You claim to support Berkeley tenants, long standing communities, public green spaces and historic places - now is the time to act on this!
If you let UC demolish the rent-controlled building at 1921 Walnut St/displace the long-standing community there and destroy our historic public space at People’s Park - UC will be able to demolish any rent controlled building or park in Berkeley. This would raise the rents for everyone and destroy historic space that we all enjoy. UC has plenty of other land to build on. We want development WITHOUT displacement.
Do the right thing! Save 1921 Walnut St. and People’s Park. Don’t let UC destroy our city.
Sincerely,
_______
Sample tweets
(make sure to add the .png poster files above as images!):
or re-tweet our tweets @save1921walnut
“DO NOT settle your lawsuit with UC unless you agree to SAVE 1921 Walnut and PEOPLE’S PARK. Stand up for tenants & our historic public spaces! @JesseArreguin @RashiKesarwani @TaplinTerry @benbartlettberk @KateHarrisonD4 @SophieHahnBerk
CM Wengraf @RigelRobinson @loridroste”
“Stand up for tenants & our historic public spaces! Don’t let UC destroy affordable housing we all need & historic public spaces we all enjoy. Say NO to UC! Save 1921 Walnut and People’s Park! Don’t let UC ruin our city on your watch! #save1921walnut #defendpeoplespark @JesseArreguin ”
“DO NOT settle your lawsuit with UC unless you agree to SAVE 1921 Walnut & PEOPLE’S PARK. Stand up for the people of Berkeley! It’s not just students who need housing & parks! We need development without displacement! UC has tons of other land to build on instead! @RigelRobinson ”