User:AustinePeng/People's Park (Berkeley)/Bibliography

[Parts] of the Original Article

"While legally the land is the property of the University of California, People's Park has operated since the early 1970s as a free public park. Although open to all, it is often viewed as a daytime [~ it is a sanctuary at all points of the day, the use of the word daytime is University language (biased) to argue that no one uses the park at night/permanently, therefore, there is no need to stall building on the park] sanctuary for Berkeley's low income and large homeless population who, along with others, receive meals from East Bay Food Not Bombs [*Add, "regularly. Many homeless outreach organizations, like the Suitcase Clinic, also visit the park regularly.] Nearby residents, and those who use the park for recreation, share the park with homeless people as part of the tradition of sharing."[delete, repetitive. Add, "partake in activities around the park like gardening, musical performances, and movie nights. Many of these events are planned and executed by the People's Park Committee.]

Peaceful protest[edit]

By May 26, the city-wide curfew and ban on gatherings had been lifted, although 200 members of the National Guard remained to guard the fenced-off park, anticipating unrest from a march planned for May 30. Governor Reagan pledged that "whatever force is necessary will be on hand", although protest leaders declared the march would be non-violent. Demonstrators engaged in shop-ins, park-ins, and other non-violent tactics to counter the police action.

On May 30, 1969, 30,000 Berkeley citizens (out of a population of 100,000) secured a city permit and marched without incident past the barricaded People's Park to protest Governor Reagan's occupation of their city, the death of James Rector, the blinding of Alan Blanchard, and the many injuries inflicted by police. Young girls slid flowers down the muzzles of bayoneted National Guard rifles, and a small airplane flew over the city trailing a banner that read, "Let A Thousand Parks Bloom."

Nevertheless, over the next few weeks National Guard troops broke up any assemblies of more than four people who congregated for any purpose on the streets of Berkeley, day or night. In the early summer, troops deployed in downtown Berkeley surrounded several thousand protesters and bystanders, emptying businesses, restaurants, and retail outlets of their owners and customers, and arresting them en masse. At one point, the National Guard arrested 482 people by sectioning off a large part of a main street, including protestors and bystanders.

"Despite the protests, in late 2011, UC Berkeley bulldozed the west end of People's Park, tearing up the decades-old community garden and plowing down mature trees in what a press release issued by the school described as an effort to provide students and the broader community with safer, more sanitary conditions. This angered some Berkeley students and residents, who noted that the bulldozing took place during winter break when many students were away from campus, and followed the administration-backed police response at Occupy Cal less than two months prior.

People's Park has been the subject of long-running contention between those who see it as a memorial to the Free Speech Movement and a haven for the poor; and those who describe it as crime-infested and unfriendly to families. While the park has public bathrooms, gardens, and a playground area, many residents do not see it as a welcoming place, citing drug use and a high crime rate. A San Francisco Chronicle article on January 13, 2008 referred to People's Park as "a forlorn and somewhat menacing hub for drug users and the homeless." The same article quoted denizens and supporters of the park saying it was "perfectly safe, clean and accessible." In May 2018, UC Berkeley reported that campus police had been called 1,585 times to People's Park in the previous year. The University also said there had been 10,102 criminal incidents in the park between 2012 and 2017."

Proposed Development

"In 2018, UC Berkeley unveiled a plan for People's Park that would include the construction of housing for as many as 1,000 students, supportive housing for the homeless or military veterans, and a memorial honoring the park's history and legacy. On August 29, 2019, Chancellor Carol T. Christ confirmed plans to create student housing for 600-1000 students, and supportive housing for 100-125 people. San Francisco-based LMS architects has been selected to build the housing, and Christ stated that they are moving to a time of "extensive public comment" on the plans for construction." [*Add, the supportive housing is proposed to be built by a nonprofit, Resources for Community Development]

The People's Park Housing Project is part of the University's Long-Range Development Plan (LRDP). Updated nearly every 15 years, the LRDP is guided by the campus' commitments to maintaining "sustainability, being a good neighbor and community partner, as well as serving the people of California." In February 2020, the University held its first public comment forum. Advocates of the park held a rally to protest the proposal, with students citing the historical, cultural, and social relevance of the park.

On April 17th, 2020, the University of California, Berkeley published its plans for the People's Park Housing Project during its third virtual open house. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the following shelter-in-place ordinances, the University moving forward with the plan was faced with significant backlash. The Mayor of Berkeley, Jesse Arreguin, wrote "I think we should launch this process at a time and in a way that allows full transparency and participation. I therefore reiterate my request that the campus delay the public comment period until after the Shelter in Place order is lifted."

On April 29, 2020, the Associated Students of the University of California (ASUC), planned to vote on re-establishing the nonpartisan housing commission. The commission would bring more transparency and communication between the UC Berkeley administration and the student body regarding campus housing projects, with collaboration with community non-profits like the People's Park Committee and Suitcase Clinic.

Community Involvement

Green Infrastructure

When the Park was established in 1969, located between the Derby and Potters watershed, it became one of the oldest natural storm water management systems in Southside, Berkeley. The park is also home to a community garden, that grows vegetables including: Artichoke, Asparagus, Basil, Fava Beans, Beets, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Celeriac, Celery, Chard, Chayote, Chives, Kohl Rabi, Leek, Lettuce, Mustard, Onion, Parsley, Peas, Potatoes, Radish, Spinach, Sunchokes, and Turnips. Community members meet every Saturday from 1-4 pm PST at the Northwest Entrance of the park to cultivate these plants.

Mutual Aid

Community organizations visit the Park regularly bringing supplies, food, services, and resources to the residents of the Park as well as community members. The Suitcase Clinic as well as the Berkeley Outreach Coalition visit weekly on Mondays and Tuesdays. The Cal Sikh Student Association provide clothes and meals every month. Food not Bombs serve hot meals at the Park every weekend.