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Democracy for some, inhumanity for many

By Tracy Lee on December 1, 2019

First-person Opinion YSA youth contributions

This country preaches love and commitment to Democracy. But government officials and staff send government workers to come and demolish our houses and curbside communities. Officials cry, “Democracy!” But decisions hit us like the bombs the United States uses to destroy homes and communities in other countries.

Lose your ID, lose your identity

By TJ Johnston on December 1, 2019

Commentary Opinion

A few months ago, I lost my ID. I retraced my steps to the stores where I took it out when fishing for store cards and cash in my pouch. No luck—it wasn’t at any of them.

Rainstorm ritual: checking my secret stash spots

By Ace Backwords on December 1, 2019

First-person Opinion

One of my post-rainstorm rituals is, I go around to all my stash spots to make sure all my stuff

Hating the holidays

By Timothy Busby on December 1, 2019

First-person Opinion

After a series of horrific events I found myself living on the streets at the age of 49, and Christmas suddenly took on a whole new meaning

Remembering Michael Diehl

By Lydia Gans on November 1, 2019

First-person Opinion YSA youth contributions

For over 40 years Michael Diehl was a presence in Berkeley, on the streets and the parks, connecting with people, talking, listening, or just being present. Many were homeless or inadequately housed.

Is Berkeley’s ‘shared sidewalk ordinance’ working?

By Timothy Busby on November 1, 2019

Commentary Opinion

In April, the City of Berkeley voted to enforce a new law that limits the amount of space your personal be- longings can take up on the sidewalk. The new regulations state that if your personal property takes up more than 9 square feet, the city can take it away, and you could be subject to a citation.

Thanksgiving on Telegraph Avenue

By Ace Backwords on November 1, 2019

Commentary Opinion

I always get this weird flashback when I’m walking down Telegraph Avenue on Thanksgiving day. Back in the Good Old Days I used to always meet up with my pals Duncan and Vince at this Telegraph Avenue coffee shop every Thanksgiving. Joint called the Wall Berlin. The Wall Berlin was one of the few coffee shops that was open on Thanksgiving. So it became kind of an annual holiday tradition for the three of us. I can still picture us sitting there at our table outside the café, quietly sipping on our coffee and talking about our plans for the holiday.

The homeless shuffle: enough is enough

By Timothy Busby on November 1, 2019

Commentary Community Events Opinion

Berkeley’s homeless residents staged a protest march on Wednesday, October 23rd, starting at the Seabreeze encampment on University Ave and West Frontage road and ending at Berkeley City Hall. The purpose of the march was to bring attention to the cruelty of what I will call the “homeless shuffle,” the process by which agencies such as CalTrans, the Berkeley Police Department, and Amtrak take turns forcing people to move from corner to corner, and disposing of all their personal property in the process.

Buddhism for the rich vs. Buddhism for the poor

By Jack Bragen on October 1, 2019

Commentary Opinion

It is well known to almost anyone exposed to Buddhism that its originator, Gautama Buddha, left behind rule of a

First rain of the season

By Ace Backwords on October 1, 2019

Commentary Opinion YSA youth contributions

The first real rain of the season was last night and I got totally soaked. My impression was that the rain wasn’t gonna start until later in the morning. My impression was wrong.

Paralyzed: the demons that prey on the homeless

By Andy Pope on October 1, 2019

First-person Opinion

When one is homeless, one is by definition exposed to all kinds of elements that escape the confines of one

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