Neighbors, join Halcyon Neighborhood Association’s Facebook group!

 

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Halcyon Neighborhood Association E-News 3/6/14

 

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Items appearing in the HNA E-News are deemed to be of general interest to neighbors but do not necessarily reflect the views of Halcyon Neighborhood Association (HNA), its Steering Committee, or the Editor. The Editor’s introductory comments express her personal viewpoint.

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Contents

1. Work Party in Halcyon Commons & Surrounding Neighborhood, Sat. 3/15, 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

2. Notes from our Neighborhood Watch Community Meeting in February

3. Crime-Watch Updates & Links

4. Whole Foods Market News: Next Drop-in Progress Meeting, March 12, 8-8:30 a.m.

5. Public Hearing on Use Permit for Large Café at Ashby & Telegraph, Tues., March 11, 7 p.m.

6. CERT News: Berkeley Emergency Prep Fair, Free Classes & Cache Application

 

 

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1. Work Party in Halcyon Commons & Surrounding Neighborhood, Sat. 3/15, 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

 

Location: Halcyon Commons (Halcyon at Prince) RAIN OR SHINE!

Time Frame: Come anytime between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Sat. 3/15 (even twenty minutes helps!)

Goals: Weed and mulch in the park and nearby planted areas; remove graffiti (if the weather cooperates) & trash in the larger neighborhood; enjoy the company of neighbors and student volunteers

Fuel: Refreshments & lunch courtesy of Whole Foods Market; fresh coffee courtesy of Mokka Café at Telegraph & Dowling

 

Once again we’ll enjoy the help of volunteers from the Berkeley Project as students from UC help us weed in the park and spread mulch. If you can help, just show up at Halcyon Commons. Bring your own weeding tools, or we’ll loan you some. Children welcome!

 

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2. Notes from our Neighborhood Watch Community Meeting in February

 

Editor’s note: The meeting notes were created after the event (next time, we’ll ask for a volunteer beforehand), so please forgive any inaccuracies due to faulty memory. Thanks to Chochmat HaLev for donating the space and to Billy Cauley for donating water and name tags. Thanks to Mikel Delgado and Billy Cauley for taking the lead on organizing the meeting with the assistance of HNA Co-Chair Nancy Carleton. Thanks to HNA Co-Chair John Steere for moderating the meeting plus setting the phone calling team in motion. Thanks to phone calling team members plus flyer distributors and E-News Editor Nancy Carleton for event publicity. Thanks to the BPD for sending three representatives to the meeting, including Lt. Randy Files, who handled the presentation, and thanks to Councilmembers Max Anderson and Kriss Worthington for making themselves available to attend the entire meeting.

 

HNA Neighborhood Watch Community Meeting

Weds., Feb. 19, 2014, Chochmat HaLev Social Hall

 

In attendance: Approx. 45 neighbors plus Lieutenant Randy Files and two other officers (one of them our beat officers: Officer Singh), Councilmember Max Anderson, Charlene Washington (aide to Councilmember Anderson), Councilmember Kriss Worthington, Berkeleyside reporter Emilie Raguso, Whole Foods Market Store Team Leader Melody Mestemacher

 

Agenda:

·      Thanks to organizers and brief introductions from attendees

·      Presentation and Q&A with Lieutenant Randy Files (one hour)

·      Brief statements and Q&A with Councilmembers Anderson & Worthington

·      Disaster Prep update

·      Neighborhood announcements

 

Lt. Randy Files Presentation:

·      Crime stats: Robberies are now down compared to the same time period a year ago, and down compared to December 2013/January 2014. There have been some arrests made in both Berkeley and Oakland related to recent robbery string. BPD, OPD, and BART police have been cooperating. Car break-ins, car thefts up citywide and in North Berkeley, down in our area. Bicycle thefts up.

·      Armed robberies near BART late last year and early this year represented a serious matter and an increase; BPD took it very seriously and worked with OPD & BART to address through a robbery-suppression team; while not eliminated, stats show fewer incidents now.

·      Lighting is a concern; police are aware of dark pockets, especially around BART, and more lighting would help but takes multi-level action to achieve; neighbors encouraged to leave lights on at night.

·      Nighttime crime (dark) represents approx. 65% of incidents vs. daytime crime (approx. 35%).

·      “Apple-jack”: Theft of smartphones and electronics drives robberies. Robbers can get up to a couple of hundred dollars per smartphone. Need to educate people not to lose situational awareness while staring zombielike at a phone (especially near BART, not a good idea to pull the phone out for calls).

·      It isn’t worth risking your life for any material possession; give robbers what they’re demanding.

·      Listen to your gut: Any suspicion whatsoever, change your plans and call BPD to check it out (call nonemergency number for general suspicion; emergency number for anything in progress, such as fence hopping, etc.).

 

Q&A Overview:

·      Improving lighting, especially near BART? Police definitely would prefer more lighting and discussed need for multipronged approach to move in that direction (political process to get city and department support, including possible petition; neighbors lighting more porch lights and placing motion-detector lights in dark pockets; concerns include more lighting at pedestrian level and avoiding lights shining in bedroom windows).

·      Nighttime vs. daytime crime? Approximate 65% nighttime, 35% daytime.

·      What level of suspicion justifies a call to the police? They’d prefer we call at any level (even one on a scale of ten) so they can check it out. Just be prepared to say what made you suspicious and to give as detailed a description as possible to Dispatch (Nancy added that when calling Dispatch it’s good to remind them that our beat officers and area coordinator have told us to call to report any suspicious behavior).

·      Neighborhood–funded patrol? No stats on how effective (Nancy mentioned that Rockridge neighbors have self-funded patrols, and there are currently discussions on the social media site Nextdoor about how effective it has been, with mixed opinions expressed). Key police concerns: Issues about safety if patrols are armed; do they accurately convey information to police so that arrests can be made if called for?

·      Self-defense training? Neighbor who was mugged long ago shares how her post-traumatic recovery was aided when she attended a self-defense course five years later. She also shared how support from neighbors, including HNA leadership, convinced her to stay in the neighborhood when she had first considered moving. Police reminded us not worth getting killed fighting to defend material possessions. Neighbor shared that the increased confidence and verbal tools helped her feel safer.

·      Response time: Does Department have a standard goal for response time as fire departments often do? Answer, no, but they aim for the best they can achieve and feel good about how they’re doing (many responses happen within one to three minutes). Crimes in process get immediate response.

·      Dispatch alerting callers that response is on the way for crimes-in-progress? Neighbor shared that not knowing help was on the way made her more frightened as she answered the long list of Dispatch questions. Police confirmed that for in-process crimes help is on the way immediately, though Dispatch could do better sharing this information with victims. Improvement has happened in Dispatch communications but more is needed and sought.

·      Communication/social media/Better communication with neighbors? Request to pass up the chain the interest in better communication nearer to when crimes happen; currently our main source of information is direct reports via social media. Better communication (similar to North Oakland) would be helpful. We were told that great social media presence on the part of the City of Berkeley is in the works. A city official will be giving a progress report at the next BSNC meeting (April 7) and Halcyon would be welcome to attend (Any volunteers? Contact halcyon92@gmail.com).

·      How to deal with feeling of personal safety and avoid being a victim? (Neighbor expressed the concern of never having felt so unsafe in Berkeley.) Answer involved having situational awareness, listening to gut feelings, and keeping smartphones out of view.

·      Longtime Prince Street neighbor shared that things were far worse in the mid-1980s (serious drug dealing; more burglaries and armed robberies), and that things have actually improved with occasional blips. Police affirmed that this is the case.

·      Are there gangs in Berkeley? Short answer yes (of various levels), and the BPD tracks the issue closely.

 

Brief statements and Q&A with Councilmembers Anderson & Worthington

·      Councilmembers shared ideas for improving lighting (suggested petition drive would help), stated need for greater equity of resources for South Berkeley; stated why an added assessment district for lighting wouldn’t be equitable; expressed concerns over citizen patrols and the need for constitutional protections while expressing appreciation for how BPD handles investigations.

·      Councilmembers shared additional ideas for public safety that their offices are working on, such as a regional pawn-shop registry, applying for grants to install state-of-the-art secure bicycle racks, having civilians fill certain positions that don’t require a sworn officer, using mental-health professionals (who cost less) rather than sworn officers for calls involving the mentally ill and substance abusers, need for city’s new computer system to be streamlined so officers don’t have to spend so much time on reports (which takes them off the streets), reasons councilmembers voted against mayor’s budget that included cuts to number of officers, etc.

 

Brief announcements on Disaster Preparedness from HNA Disaster Preparedness Coordinator Susan Snyder

·      Berkeley Emergency Prep Fair on Saturday, April 26, 10-2 at North Berkeley BART: Susan has been helping plan this fun, free event, which will feature mini-presentations on protecting, kids, pets, first aid, and more

·      Encouragement to take next steps in personal/household preparedness.

·      Encouragement to take excellent free CERT classes the City offers

·      Free Citizens’ CERT academy coming up on April 4–6 (Susan will be attending and would love some other Halcyon neighbors to join her).

 

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3. Crime-Watch Updates & Links

 

Editor’s note: Our HNA Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=292160762499 often shares breaking crime reports in between E-News editions (your home and email addresses plus phone are required to participate so we can be sure the group is kept safe for neighbors, and we require this information prior to accepting your request). Remember, we rely on neighbors to fill in the details of crimes in our neighborhood, so, in addition to filing a police report (which can now be done online through the City of Berkeley website for some kinds of crimes: http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/onlinereport/), please email halcyon92@gmail.com to pass the word on to your neighbors, or share it on our Facebook page, so we can all stay aware and vigilant!

 

HNA Steering Committee member Mikel Delgado submitted the following summary of recent crimes in or near the neighborhood (this time a number of these happened outside our boundaries but near enough it’s wise to be informed). Thank you, Mikel!

 

2/1 theft, Ashby and Ellsworth

2/2 felony theft, Telegraph and Ashby

2/3 robbery, Telegraph and Ashby (afternoon; note crime mapping reports two separate robberies at the same time, different report numbers)

2/3 vehicle break-in, Dana and Webster

2/4 theft, Telegraph and Webster

2/6 burglary, Telegraph and Woolsey

2/8 burglary, Ashby and Shattuck

2/9 burglary, Ashby and Ellsworth

2/12 vehicle break-in Ashby and Shattuck

2/13 vehicle break-in, Shattuck and Woolsey

2/17 theft, Ashby near Shattuck

2/20 robbery (with firearm), 66th and Telegraph

2/20 vehicle stolen, Hillegass and Ashby

2/26 vehicle break-in, Dana and Webster

2/27 commercial burglary, Telegraph and Woolsey

2/27 vehicle stolen, Dana and Webster

2/27 vehicle break-in, Dana and Webster

 

FYI there were also robberies on 1/31 at College and Woolsey (around 6 p.m.) and 2/6 on Fairview and King (11 p.m.) and another robbery on Fairview on 2/12 around 10 p.m. (just on the other side of BART).

 

Received from Officer Jessyca A. Nabozny:

 

Hello community members:

 

Save the Date! The BSNC will be hosting a meeting regarding the social media policies of the city. Special guest will be Matthai Chakko, the City of Berkeley PIO, speaking about the social media policies. This meeting will be held on Monday, April 7, 2014 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tentatively, this meeting will be at the police department. If you have any questions and/or concerns, please feel free to contact me.

 

Thanks!

 

Ofc. Jessyca A. Nabozny #118

CSB: Area 2 Coordinator

2100 Martin Luther King Jr. Way

Berkeley, Ca. 945704

Ph: 510-981-5778

Fax: 510-981-5819

 

Links related to Crime Watch:

 

http://www.berkeleyside.com/2014/02/19/3-years-on-city-of-berkeley-still-stuck-on-social-media-2/

 

http://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/when-private-patrols-pull-the-trigger/Content?oid=3848954

 

http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Oakland-neighbors-increasingly-use-surveillance-5283148.php

 

http://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/why-private-security-patrols-are-not-the-answer/Content?oid=3841380

 

http://www.berkeleyside.com/2014/02/05/alleged-berkeley-wedding-ring-robber-arrested-charged/?utm_source=Daily+Briefing+subscribers&utm_campaign=6be1d928eb-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_aad4b5ee64-6be1d928eb-333184121

 

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4. Whole Foods Market News: Next Drop-in Progress Meeting on March 12, 8-8:30 a.m.

 

Editor’s note: News from Whole Foods Market. If you’d like to be added to the neighbor notification list that Lizzie Brimhall maintains for the neighborhood-WFM meetings (and to notify neighbors when work is being done at the store), please email her at lizzie.brimhall@wholefoods.com.

 

Hello Halcyon Neighbors:

 

I wanted to let you know about a crane that will be in our parking lot on Wednesday March 5th and Wednesday March 12th from 7 a.m. to Noon. It will be in the back parking lot by our receiving and bike shed areas. We are having the compressors on our roof replaced. While the crane will be here early in the morning, we are not expecting too much noise from it. I encourage you to call the store at 510.649.1333 with any concerns. Our receivers will be here at 7 a.m. and a shifty will be onsite by 7:30 a.m.

 

Lizzie Brimhall, Marketing Team Leader

 

Next Drop-in Progress Meeting, Wednesday, March 12, 8-8:30 a.m.

Whole Foods Market (check in at Customer Service)

 

“These meetings are held at the Community Table at the front of the store, and the purpose is to share our plans for ongoing changes in the store, street litter control, and progress on any of the ongoing issues we discuss [with HNA reps and nearby neighbors]. The Store Team Leader is usually present, and anyone is welcome to join us. Of course there will be complimentary coffee, tea, and snacks. Our goal is to follow up immediately on any issues that we hear about, and to hear how the store can be a better neighbor.”

 

As always, if there are ever any urgent issues, please call the store at 510-649-1333 and ask for the shift manager on duty. If it’s between 7: 30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Melody, Carlisle, Curt, OR Donna will be in the store, so always feel free to swing by, too, if you’d like to have a word with us. Call the store during business hours (8am-10pm) at 649-1333 and ask for a Shift Manager:

Melody.Mestemacher@wholefoods.com

Donna.Hitchens@wholefoods.com
Curt.Sundin@wholefoods.com
Carlisle.Crumley@wholefoods.com

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5. Public Hearing on Use Permit for Large Café at Ashby & Telegraph, Tues., March 11, 7 p.m.

 

Editor’s note: As reported previously, the City Council agreed to hold a public hearing on Bateman Neighborhood Association’s appeal of the 5-4 ZAB decision granting a use permit for a Starbucks at the corner of Ashby and Telegraph that includes a waiver of the usual parking requirements. Since there are a range of views among neighbors, HNA hasn’t taken a position on this issue but encourages neighbors to inform themselves and to express any strong views directly to decision makers (in this case, the City Council); you can find a contact list of decision makers’ emails at our HNA website: halcyonneighborhood.org

Public Hearing on Use Permit for 2,000-foot-plus Café at 3001 Telegraph (at Ashby)

City Council Meeting, Tues., Mar. 11, 7 p.m.
Old City Hall, 2nd Floor (MLK & Allston)

 

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6. CERT News: Berkeley Emergency Prep Fair, Free Classes & Cache Application

 

Editor’s note: March notice received from Khin Chin, CERT Program Manager with the City of Berkeley. (Important: Please let us know at halcyon92@gmail.com if you’re aware of a location that could host another neighborhood disaster supply cache either midneighborhood – i.e., around Fulton -- or west of Shattuck up to the Ed Roberts Campus. The size of our neighborhood and its disaster preparedness plan would certainly justify our obtaining additional caches, but this will only happen if we have someplace to host them!)

 

Hi CERT Community,

 

Berkeley Emergency Prep Fair – Planning is underway for the Berkeley Emergency Prep Fair scheduled for Saturday, April 26, 2014 , 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., North Berkeley BART, 1750 Sacramento Street and more volunteers are needed! We’re working hard to make this event as fun, interactive, and empowering as possible. The focus for 2014 is children and pets and the fair will be filled with fun and educational activities for kids, pet owners, and families. To volunteer to help make this great community-wide event possible, sign up with this form or call me at 510-981-5506.

 

Class Schedule Open for Enrollment

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) class schedule is now available on the Berkeley CERT website. In addition to the CERT Academy scheduled for April 4-6, individual modules are available throughout February and March. Sign up now for classes! Check back as we add additional classes to the schedule.

 

Dumpster Program

In an effort to increase community participation in disaster planning and public safety, neighborhoods that regularly collaborate through established City programs are eligible to reserve a 16 cubic yard dumpster without a fee. Visit Dumpster Program page for details.

 

Free Disaster Supplies for Neighborhood Groups!

The 2014 Community Emergency Supply Program Application (Disaster Caches) period is now open. This program awards a limited number of qualifying groups an initial emergency cache of equipment and a container for storage. The application period is open through May 23. See the application on the Office of Emergency Services website for requirements and more information. 

 

Thank you,

 

Khin Chin

CERT Program Manager

Berkeley Fire Department

Office of Emergency Services

510.981.5506

 

2014 Berkeley Emergency Prep Fair - Kids and Pets!

http://www.cityofberkeley.info/PrepFair/

 

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