Redistricting

September 24, 2025

virtual via Zoom

1:30 Welcome, Introductions

Suggested Meeting Guidelines

Co-Convenors Carol Crooks & Betsy Morris

Board Reports

• Solano Stroll
• Board Member Nominations & Elections (in October) 

“Election Rigging Response Act” of 2025

• California Temporary Redistricting Measure Proposition 50 
• Where do we stand? Member Discussion and Decision
• CARA Monday Phone Banking

Berkeley Rent Board 2026 Convention Planning 

• What are concerns for rent control and board elections in 2026? 
• Affirm long-time sponsorship 

Recommendations to Board

Upcoming Topics and Speakers 

ANNOUNCEMENTS & EVENTS

October 18, No Kings national day of protest

October 22, 2025 Annual EBGP Board Elections

Board/Member Meeting - 1st Wednesdays

Member Socials - 2nd Wednesdays

Public Meeting - Oct. 22, 2025 - 4th Wednesdays)

Adjourn 3:30

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Chat Transcript

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Unedited Automated Transcript - May contain errors

Respect each other, step… A step back. The same… the same… it's nothing unusual.

Thank you. Yeah, that's right.

Nothing at all. Mm-mm.

Uh, is there anything you'd like to suggest we add?

Or takeaway.

Nothing, no, no, uh-uh, no.

Okay. Well, thank you. So, we do want our… our members to…

accept this. Carol's made sure we've been announcing it.

You know, for at least 6 months worth of meetings, so…

Thank you, Ms. Cecilia.

Uh, Carol, did you want me to…

And I don't think we brought it to the general membership that long ago.

go over the agenda and…

Oh, yes, ma'am.

I wanted to say this, that I thought we had voted on…

Yes, as a board.

But we have a larger membership

Okay. Mm-hmm.

you know, of people who don't come to the board meetings,

Uh, or don't always come to our member meetings, but we have this annual… once a year, it's called the member meeting.

And it's, uh, it's election to the board, so, um, we're gonna need you.

Uh, at that meeting, since you are the only person not running again,

Uh, not running again for the board. I mean, you are… you are a board member for another year. The rest of us

Our terms have expired.

So, um, but let me… let me start, if you're good, Miss…

Ms. Cecilia, I'm just gonna go…

do the agenda, thank you. So, um, we have a pretty…

Yeah, sometimes, mhm.

Uh, we… we do not have guest speakers today, but we do have people who… I'm hoping, will give us more information about activities we've been involved in. So, our…

Board reports, uh…

I'd love a little check-in.

briefly about the Solano Stroll, uh, 3 people at least tended the table and handed out things.

Uh, then, uh, we'll talk about, um, board member nominations and elections.

And, um, I did want to, um…

uh, offer, uh,

an email exchange that Helen Walsh, our board member, and I had,

Um, and… and it's about our commitment to,

Um, senior and disability rights, so if that's okay, I thought I'd take a few minutes and read a little bit, uh, from that exchange, so…

Um, and then, uh, a number of

We're then… we were going to talk about Prop 50, which is called the Election Rigging Response Act.

of 2025. And this is something Hallie and Robert and I'm sure others of you, have

We're able to go to the…

Friday forum with Kara, California Alliance of Retired Americans, but I'm depend… I wasn't able to go, so I'm depending on you all.

to lead that discussion, um, pros and cons, so that we could, as members, make a clear determination that we support it. We usually support CARA's work, but

Um, or… or if there's a reason to be neutral.

We can do that. The League of Women Voters decided not to…

vote on it and chose to be neutral.

Um, and most… and if we do… so, if we can, um…

I will do that, then we're going to talk about the Berkeley Rent Board convention planning,

Uh, and any, um…

Carol Morasovic, I'm hoping, will come on and talk

Uh, about our follow-up.

at the city around homelessness solidarity. Yeah?

Oh, great! You made it, Carol!

Carol is on.

So, uh, that'll be later in the agenda.

Um, and then we, uh, have any further recommendations that members here today

Um, um…

want to…

refer to the board. The board will meet the first…

Wednesday of, um, October.

So, we can do that.

Uh, and then there's announcements, and we'll get to those.

At the end of the meeting, and then we'll adjourn no later than 3.30.

Is my hope. Or at least I need to get off back then.

So, um…

Thank you all. Uh…

So, board reports. Uh, we met on the first Wednesday of October.

Is there any report back from the folks who did the outreach at Solano Stroll?

We haven't had October yet, have we?

I'm sorry, I'm mistaken. We had our September board meeting the first week of September.

So, thank you, Julian.

Is there someone who could speak?

to, uh, outreach, and that was, uh…

Robert, you were there.

Margo went and, uh…

Uh, Christy, yeah.

and Helen, so we had 3…

Christy and Helen.

Three board members and a member emeritus.

Does anybody want to… how was that, Robert?

Well, we didn't get much, you know, people came by. But I did get one person who's filled out with the form, but didn't give it any contribution.

If you want me to, I can… I get it in my computer, and then… I could probably…

Maybe to you.

Do you have the name of this interested person? Maybe someone knows them.

Let me see if I can find any…

Okay, personally. It looks like it's G, G-V, G-A-I-L-A.

Kerrunner.

And if it's listed at 15-15 Market Street in Oakland. 94607…

Just…

Okay, does anyone know her?

Yeah. It's hard to make out the email, the email address, but there is a phone number, 510.

That's okay, Robert. We're not… we don't…

472-1950, I'll…

Okay, we don't need… we… I just wanted to see if anybody recognized her name.

Yeah, and we'll be in touch.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

later. But…

This is frozen. Maybe she can turn her, um…

Window… composer window. And just use audio when she comes back.

I don't have the agenda in front of me.

Maybe you better reminder again.

Okay… Yeah, I'm gonna steerity.

Okay, board reports, um… Robert, do you have a treasurer's report?

Well, not really, but I can… Pull one up.

Well, it doesn't seem worth it to just us few people.

Um, we need to do board nominations. We have elections in October.

And Dirk Niehart. Is up for the board.

He's in the meeting today. Derek, would you like to speak?

Oh, thank you.

Okay.

How many people… is there a specific number that's supposed to be on the… on the board?

No, we don't have a specific number. There may be a minimum number.

What is the minimum?

But we have the minimum. Um…

I think 9 is a full board. And we have to have at least 5…

Members present to have a quorum. For the board meetings, or to take votes, either 5…

Board members minimum, or 10… 10 members that have paid dues.

Betsy's calling me, I was gonna call her. Betsy?

Hi, Carol, stuff. Made to your co-host. Are people still on, or is the whole thing… Yes, people are still on.

Okay, well, I… I… you're co-host. And for some reason, all I see was pink.

Start… let's see… I can't hear you. What? I can't hear you.

I may not. Be able to just join.

Rejoin the meeting. Oh. Seeing that if that happens. Yeah, I'm having… you know, I'm on a…

I call them satellite. Kind of satellite.

In the next service, and it's wobbly. So I'm trying to get back on now.

Okay. But, um… Do you want to ask… maybe you guys can just start.

We'll get back to the board report. But, um, maybe we can just start talking about the…

Cop60. And, uh, and the phone, you know, if anyone has anything to.

Or, um. Wants to know more about the CARA funding baking. That's something…

Hell no about phone banking. Okay.

I think… bank, you know, phone banking.

And you can ask her, and I'm trying to get on. Like we lost Hallie. We got a couple other people.

No, there's I, okay. Okay. Okay, otherwise we should restart the meeting, because I'm trying…

Okay, I'm back. Sorry for the delay, um… Can you hear me?

Okay, Betsy's on, uh, satellite service. She's on the East Coast.

And she's going to try to come back. Um…

Yes? Do you want to put me on speakerphone, or…

Yeah, you're on speakerphone. Let me see if people can hear you.

Speak, Betsy. Hi, everyone. I feel embarrassed of my…

Internet connection went down. Can you hear, Betsy?

I can. She's not appearing on the screen at all.

No, she's not got her on the telephone. But you can hear her.

Okay.

Yeah, I can hear her, but… How is she… I mean, how are we… is she just called in? Is that what you're saying? But…

Oh, she called you. Oh, okay, I was wondering, because I didn't see your name on the screen anyway.

She called me, yes, she's on my telephone.

Yeah. But… I'm trying to get back to this room.

Um, but… Yeah, she's trying to get back in. What I suggest is… is good.

So how… could you talk about the phone banking? Otherwise, in the, uh…

Agenda of that program we sent, there's… a link to a description of Prop 50.

So if there's… we want to talk about that. Let's see if I can…

Okay, well, yeah, well… Well, CAR is… yeah, Cara is doing phone banking.

Go ahead.

Um, on Mondays from noon to 2. And it's, uh, you know, it's not in person, so you have to sign up for it.

And they have a training first. But Cara is also linking people to other groups that are doing phone banking at other times.

I haven't started doing it yet. I'm gonna be doing mine starting, you know, in October. I can do one day.

So, uh, I may do other dates. With other organizations, but it's basic… you all know about Prop 50 and what's going on, I imagine.

Um, so I don't really have to reiterate that. But it sounds like they're… Kara is calling just seniors.

And they're getting, from what I understand, really good responses for it.

So that's as much information as I have.

Okay, cars have us about 4 or 5… or the phone bank that they're with.

Has about 4 or 5 slots every day, and I think it's 4 days a week.

So there are a lot of thoughts, but the, um, car is calling seniors from 12 to 2.

On Monday. And that's the only one that car is… It's seniors calling seniors.

The other ones are all mixed up. And if anyone's not familiar with Prop 50, it's…

Uh, Trump asked Texas. For five Republican.

Um, seats in Congress. So, the legislature got together.

And voted… to redistrict mid-census instead of waiting until the census in 2030.

They have 5 more Republican seats in Texas now. And because of that.

Um, only California can balance that 5 seats, New York. It's set up… to prevent gerrymandering, and it's so difficult that it's just not likely to get anything from New York.

And then there are a few smaller states, Missouri, I think.

May have, uh, voted a seat to… added a seat. For the Republican, or they may be working on it.

And there's… there are up to 5 states where they're talking about.

Changing the seats. And that includes, um… both Republican and Democratic states.

And California has… set up a…

Uh, redistricting. For 2025, it's this…

Yes, on Prop 50 campaign. Um…

But there sunsets in 2030. In 2030, it goes back to the same rules that we have.

In play now, which prevent, um, gerrymandering in California. I don't know if that was clear.

Um… Is everyone clear on what… Prop 50 is about.

Yeah, I am.

Okay. Would anyone else like this? Shahana, would you like to share?

This didn't raise my hand. I don't know why… okay.

Can't hear you, Hannah. Now I can.

You've got a way again.

Now we can't hear you again.

All right. Can you hear me now?

Sort of.

I don't know why.

Let me just stop here. Okay. I'm sorry.

Okay.

What? Why don't you just call in?

I don't… I don't know why I can't… I'm… heard, but, um, can you hear me now if I stop driving?

Yes. Yes?

Is that better? Okay, so I'm very…

Oh, but I… I have to say that my own first reaction.

To this, um, bill, or this, uh, this, um. Initiative was that.

Uh, we can't fix a room with a right, or a wrong with a wrong.

Anyway, I'm just wondering if Kara is in their training, is offering, besides.

The logistics of how to use the call system? Um, if they're also helping, uh, folks, um, understand the arguments and the talking points.

Or if there's something…

They go over briefly during the training, but they had a special program on it already.

The long… went along, there's… nope.

I think.

Something… Betsy, I have to disconnect, it's beeping.

Maybe it's recorded.

I'm not sure what happened there, okay.

That, uh, some, like, 3-hour programs. And I left convinced that I would vote for it, even though it is a very bad bill, and had bad, uh, connotations.

Uh, but… Perfect has a whole political machinists behind it. I'm gonna vote for it.

But among the fact connotations is we have… We have already put in our Constitution that we have a commission.

For broadcast tracks. First, well, what…

Go over that, uh… submissions that we set up, and not only.

Uh, not what the Commission operate this election, but won't let that operate in the next.

I missed that last part that you said, in the next two elections.

Yeah, that connection will not operate. That is… that we will have the districts that are defunding this bill.

But there really would, and anyone interested, I invite you to see how we go these districts are.

Um, on the phone banking, they do have talking points, and they introduce the talking points.

But don't present. The other side of the argument. The thing I listened to present the pro and con.

And I thought that was wonderful. They have the cons.

They were quite persuasive. But I fell, um, sick and was said, oh, I will vote yes.

Not retribution, I still… That was the idea of two wrongs don't make a right.

But we do have to have… a vector, right?

That one thing I've… Access…

Um, Carol, I think you had your hand up first.

Okay, uh, thanks. So, it's really very simple. You know, we're at a critical turning point in our country.

We don't have control in Congress now. And our civil liberties are being chipped away at.

We're losing, uh, funding for significant programs. Whether you're an immigrant or just a low-income person, you're…

You're losing right now. In Congress, because the Republicans have control of Congress. The Republicans are, uh, decided in Texas.

That they want to redistrict. So that they could solidify.

Maintaining control of Congress, where we can anticipate that, or I don't know if anticipate is the right word, expect.

There were all… everything that we're on the road to losing, we are going to lose. I mean, and that includes, uh, attacks on, uh, housing subsidies.

I mean, across the… Medicaid, Medicare, ever… all these things. So the bottom line is, they want to solidify their position.

So, California is just taking the response. That this is how we.

Redistrict so that we… uh, can increase Democratic seats.

Yeah, I mean, you could get stuck in ideology of, oh, this is wrong, so two wrongs don't… make a right, and then you just lose.

With your… you lose everything else. You just have to… approach situations like this in a very pragmatic way, and the.

Pragmatically, this is how California needs to respond. To offset what has happened in Texas.

So that we hope we can… gain more positions in Congress.

Bye. Thank you, Carol.

Thank you.

Yeah, hi.

Well, it's…

Robert was… had his hand up next, and then Hallie. Okay. And I'd like to be in the pack.

Okay.

Got it. Robert?

Okay, you want me to go? Normally, I would oppose any mid… decade reinforcement.

But Texas is doing it. And I think we have to fight back.

In my opinion. In my opinion.

Mid… mid-decade redistricting should be… it gets to be illegal and should be applied to all 50 states.

The Texas can't pull crap like that, and what it's doing.

So I think that we have to support 50, we have to do the… do the three districts, and just to fight back at Texas.

Yeah, because I… because they're going… they don't have to… Now, Texas doesn't have to.

Have an election. I think we have to have this election.

Norma? Yeah. Can you get in?

Okay.

No, I couldn't find an address. You couldn't find the length?

Sorry? You couldn't find the link?

I couldn't find the address. It's… it's on Zoom.

It's on Zoom. Yes, it's a speaker meeting.

We're just gonna disconnect me from you. And then what?

You'll be in the meeting when you go on Zoom. Oh, okay.

Hi, Betsy. I gotta go back to the meeting.

Okay, what I want to ask is, uh. Norma and I booked.

And can book for our endorsement. Calls have passed for promotion.

Okay, we're still having a discussion. Howie's coming up next.

Yeah, um… As far as this two wrongs don't make a right.

Okay.

We have had wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong on the Republican side.

Um, we have never had such a clear threat to our democracy or our Constitution.

And we need to do something. To counteract what's being done illegally in other places.

That's the way I look at it.

Thank you. Now, um… Nancy, and then Carol.

I'm sorry, Nancy, and then, uh, Betsy, and then Carol.

I just put a link, um, a couple minutes ago, um, from a CalMatters commentary.

Uh, regarding Prop 50, uh, and basically why it's important to defend that.

My hand is up.

Okay, I'm sorry. Um…

Nancy went. Hello? Yeah, Betsy, go ahead.

Um, so… Um, I took some thought, you know, on this, and here's…

Here's three reasons why I'm comfortable. An overriding our… previous ballot proposition.

Which calls for a citizen to redistricting process. So this proposition.

Authorizes temporary changes. To our congressional district maps.

In response to Texas. Uh, redistricting.

And it is, um… what I like about it is that we, the voters, are being asked for permission.

By the legislature. Uh, they will put… have a special election on November 4th.

In which we will vote on this. That's, like, two, two… you know, this proposition is not… like, being imposed.

On us. It is being proposed. To us. So I appreciate that. And it's over in 2030.

In the 2030 election. We will revisit this whole thing.

So that's… that's why I support it. Um, but I do understand, it's like, wait, you worked really hard to get, you know, bipartisan…

Neutrals, this one redistricting. Um, but I appreciate the fact that it's an urgent response.

And have a sunset. It's over in 4 years, but it… So, um, and I do want to, like, actually call it, though, and see where we're at. I will vote for this, but that doesn't mean everyone here.

Has to vote for it, but it's part of its Great Panthers endorsing it.

Um, I would just… if someone would make a motion. Discussed it thoroughly.

So moved. So moved.

Then I would like to see that, Carol, if you… if you're up for calling the motion.

Controlling for emotion. Okay, Dave So moved.

So moved. Okay, and Mrs. Celia seconded the motion.

Second emotion, I second that motion.

Who, who moved? Dave made the motion, and Ms. Cecilia seconded the motion.

Thank you. Okay. And remember, this is all voted members can vote on this, so…

Yeah, um… Are there any further questions, or…

Well, I just want to say that I was very disappointed to see.

Something that needs to be said that has.

Excuse me, excuse me, Bessie, you got to file… you got to follow through with the motion. You have not carried the motion.

No, we're still discussing the most.

Discussion. We're still discussing this, Cecilia.

Okay, I didn't hear that part. I didn't hear when the question came up, the discussion. I didn't hear that part. That's why I asked.

Uh, okay.

Okay. A day's way, I've got two people ahead of you.

I wanted to say that I was very disappointed. Okay.

Sorry. Okay, Julia?

She stepped away.

Carol.

Yes.

Carol, did you want to say something?

Oh, I thought we were, uh, voting right now. Um, I just wanna… I was only gonna add that we… as this moves ahead.

Oh, you guys have your hand?

Uh, we can expect a lot of commercials. From people in power, and they have the money.

To make every argument possible to defeat this. And… there couldn't be something that's…

More critical right now as to us to try to get back our position in Congress.

And stop everything that's going on. Um, there'll be enough arguments against it.

And we can't even count on that this is definitely going to pass.

Because it's always been that the people with the most money.

When the elections. Thank you.

Okay, Julia?

Julia, did you want to speak?

I think everybody's probably said what I was going to say. I would normally never vote for a bill like this.

Uh, simply because I've spent most of my life fighting gerrymandering.

But these are just desperate times. I mean, I am really scared every time I watch the news.

Or here, one of the, uh… incredibly frightening things that Trump comes out with.

Yeah.

And uh… I've never experienced anything like that in my long lifetime.

And, uh, so I'm willing to fuzz a little bit, because if we play fair.

We're not gonna get anywhere. And the country is going… it's not going to be our country anymore, but there really is now.

That's how I wanted to say.

Right, you can't play fair when other… the other side is not playing fair.

Correct.

I know, I mean… is… I mean, I don't… on one level, I don't believe in that, and on the other level, I see it's absolutely necessary.

And I think that's the way most of us feel.

So, I will do it. And I'm merely angry that I'm forced into it having to do it.

Wait a minute, you've ignored me 3 times now, and I'm the maker of the motion. Can I at least say something?

Okay, I'm going to call the question. How many…

Oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, David. Go ahead.

Um, I just wanted to say that everybody who thought that Arnold Schwarzenegger was Republican-like.

He jumped right to the fore to be the spokesperson for the NON 50 campaign.

And, uh, he's a scumbag like all of them.

I don't know how what you said. Are you agreeing with Schwarzenegger or not?

He voted yes.

He is the… he is the spokesperson for No On 50.

It's not Schwarzenegger.

The spokesperson. He is the front man for No On 50.

Wait a minute, what? Wait a minute, what?

No!

Okay, but he's changed his position. Have you heard that? I'm almost sure that's what I heard, so…

So…

Just check on it, check on it. Put it out there.

All right, redemption. I take it all the time.

Okay, never mind what I said then. Okay, if that's true.

But right now…

I know.

God bless them. He's all over their literature.

Somebody Google it quick!

Find out.

Yeah, I thought I heard him, uh, oppose it, or, I mean, support 50 and oppose… taxes.

No, I see no evidence of that. Are you sure, Norma?

No, I said, uh, I'm not sure. I have a slight memory of him coming on TV and saying.

He thinks, yes. So, you find out, and I'm gonna go find out, too.

But I'm not sure to do it fast enough for this product.

Whereas everything, including. Everything, including a… everything including AI, says that Schwarzenegger is totally against 50.

Very clearly against.

All of it.

Well, I have the same memory that Norma has.

Okay, I turned them off so I can hear you.

I do, too. I do, too. Have the same memory.

Fred and LA Times.

For a roll call. I'm about to, but I've got too many people talking at one time, and as.

Trying to hear you, too. Okay, I'm sorry. You can mute them.

I see absolutely no evidence. That Schwarzenegger has changed his position at all.

No. I just looked it up.

Uh, this is help, and I can post an article of his opposition that was just from yesterday.

To help folks, and allow me to do that. I'm using a screen reader, so I'll get that in there shortly.

Yeah.

It doesn't make any difference what those people think. You'll find out.

Just tell me what it says.

Okay? So I just… I just…

What did you say, Betsy? You can mute them! I did! I mute… they're muted now, so I can hear you, but I can't moderate when they're muted.

He said.

Well, this is Care Oak. This is…

Okay, so this is Carol. Okay, this is Carol Morasovic.

Nope. So… to mute them, not yourself.

And can you… right, can you hear me? Okay, so I just googled it while we were on this call.

Go ahead, do what you… do what you need to do. Okay.

Yes.

That we, uh, you know, we wanted to vote on this.

And I looked, and I went through about 10 articles. They all say that he opposes Prop 50.

And then… Okay.

I know, you want me to have them stop talking and vote, but I… they're going on and on while we're… while you're telling me what I'm already gonna do.

Okay, okay.

Yes.

So, okay, so can you hear me? Okay, so I just googled it and ran through about 10 articles. They all say.

Very openly.

That he opposes Prop 50. And there was an article specifically on Geronardo Schwarzenegger. It's probably gonna be the one that decides the election.

That's… it's gonna probably turn on him, because people vote. Celebrities, and they vote image.

And they may very well go with Schwarzenegger, but he is opposing.

No. Opposition 50 is gonna pass. Proposition 50 will pass. We have to look for it, but it will pass.

I hope!

It doesn't make me… what those people think. The answer is yes, you support it.

You want them to have some access. To mess with these people that are messing with us.

Right.

Okay, let's pause the question. All those in favor?

Yes, folk, yes.

Bye.

Uh, second, I guess.

I need virtual hands from the people that are… okay. This is Robert and Patrick.

Uh, I came… my computer's not working the right. Aye.

How many… do we have any no votes?

It doesn't make any difference what Schwarzenegger thinks.

Okay, it's done.

Here, uh, you wouldn't know? Okay.

No, I'm voting yes. I took my hand down. I had my hand up because…

Okay, do we have any abstentions? How are you abstaining? Um…

Um, I'm trying to lower my hand. I voted yes.

Okay, good. Okay, motion carries.

We did it. Unanimously.

Unanimously.

Everybody else hasn't had a chance to find a way to log on.

Jesse and, uh, what's her name? Betsy and Raines? They've gone through stark grape… They have gone, hello?

I'm holding right for you.

Betsy and Raines have gone stark raving mad over the computer.

And have input everything that ever passed by in their lives.

And you can't get anything done through the stuff that they've posted.

For us to join the meeting. I was on for an hour trying to connect.

Now, norm… norm… Norma, they're trying to connect by satellite, and the satellite.

I don't know why you have trouble if you…

Rain felt at 1 o'clock that afternoon. Be able to…

Service isn't that good. They're in New England.

Well. They're wrong.

Go on to something else that's interesting. Yeah, go under something else that's interesting.

Okay, Norma, can you stop, please? Please stop, Norma.

Yes. Yeah. Always.

I like that thumbs out.

Okay. The motion carried. We're going to support Prop 50.

Why don't you repeat that a bunch of times?

She's being sarcastic, ignore her.

Well…

Okay… And I can't see the agenda.

Uh, we're now… Um.

There it is. I wanted to know if… I want to raise my hand, Phil.

The next… the next study? On the agenda.

Is the Parkland Rec Board. Are we continuing our sponsorship? Uh, we went forward convention planning. Okay.

Uh, but honestly, we could also… have announcements, and then regroup at the board meeting in two weeks.

Another option. I'm sorry, what was the other option?

Uh, we could convince… Why don't we go ahead with that, and then Carol has an announcement.

But we can reconvene. If at the board meeting with all of the members joining.

Board meetings on November. The… discussing… We're going to continue…

Convention planning for the Berkeley Rent Board will do at the board meeting.

Well, he could… I would like to do it now. Okay, then let me do it.

Okay, thank you. I just want to know, because we're… We're a little bit on the hook to put in some money.

As a sponsor. If we're going to be a sponsor, then we should.

Could be a couple hundred bucks.

Okay, the Berkeley Rent Board, the… Ray… Berkeley Ray Panthers.

Has supported the Berkeley Rent Board, um, nomination convention in prior years.

And we need to decide if we're going to do that again this year. If so.

We need to, um… We need to pay… pay several hundred dollars to support.

The election.

Okay, I'm happy. Suppose the election.

Can I add one thing? Wait a minute. We put in a couple hundred dollars.

Betty, Betsy's suggesting that we put in a couple hundred dollars.

It's not mandatory. It's not mandatory.

We're going to have to pay to what? Use the Senior Center. It's not free.

Oh, okay, it's… If there'll be…

It would help pay for the Senior Center where the election will be held, or the, uh… But we haven't decided yet, but I wanna…

We're meeting on Sunday. Okay. Okay, Betsy wants to be able to go back and tell them on Sunday whether or not we're going to join in the.

Rent board this year. Excuse me, Betsy.

Dirk, go ahead.

Dirk? Derek, you're on mute.

Okay, Dirk, we'll come back to you. Helen?

Yeah, I'm just kind of trying to get clarification. I'm understanding that Betsy is trying to put forward on our agenda that we take a vote.

On funds, uh, for an upcoming meeting so that. The… whatever we donate, I think Betsy said a few hundred dollars.

Uh, would pay for the rent. Of the venue, where this is taking place. I could not grasp what the org… the name of the organization won.

And two, do we know how much are in our funds, and if we can afford that? So that's my question.

We have funds, um… we… this is something we've done before, it's the support of Berkeley, uh.

Okay, it's for the red port, now I get it, because I was not sure.

Rent Board. Yeah, and the help pay for the rental at South Berkeley.

Um.

Senior Center.

Okay. Well, um, I… I feel good about that. Um, I'm hoping others might, you know, join in the conversation.

Yes, I'm trying to get my video on, I can't do it somehow, I don't know why.

Okay, Dave, next.

Well, Carol?

There it is.

Starting off. Um, yes, Betsy, um… you were not quite fully clear about whether or not it will be an in-person convention. There hasn't been one for 8 years.

They took advantage of the pandemic to cancel in-person conventions.

Yeah, the… the planning team… So far, has been meetings.

Erratically since February. And we're now at a place where, one, we want to affirm who are the sponsor.

Actually challenge you. The East Bay Democratic Socialists of America.

Uh, some student groups. Um, who do a lot of work.

Outreach to tenants. Um, and gray panthers is…

You know, even though we don't endorse. Selected candidates, we are still part of.

It's planning collaborative, whatever you want to call it. Uh, so their desire is to have a.

Hybrid meeting at a place. That can accommodate up to 200 people, because that's.

What it used to be, uh, or more, when. Get that in person, so… We have not yet chosen.

The in-person venue? But, uh, uh, the place that is.

Has enough chairs, enough space. And we'll, we'll, uh, let us reserve.

Space this year, in 2025, for something that's happening. In February or March of 26.

This is kind of, uh, affirming that we would like to be a member of this.

Convention planning team. Um, and I don't need to be the only person. I would love to have another.

Member here who would like to step up. But what is… the issue is.

I'll be willing, uh, puncture. Uh, once again, and do we all…

And this year, can we put up. You know, uh, up to…

Betty, Betsy, you haven't answered my question quite yet. I'm still trying to hear from you.

$200.

Are they definitely going to have a hybrid meeting, a real meeting, or is that just a hope?

What are you saying? I don't want to give them any money, you know where I see him, Betsy. I don't want to give them any money unless they're really going to have a convention.

And they are willing… $100 deposit.

So, I'm sorry, bud.

Yep. I… as you know, as you can well imagine, I don't want to give them any money unless they're really going to have a convention, so please be clear, have they decided definitely to rent a space and have a convention?

Or is it maybe?

Okay, I'm bringing back the information to the group. Other people have brought back.

The cost and availability of other locations. And I can tell you this was…

Uh, none of the other places allow reservations. This far in advance, so… Yes, the group would like to do it in person.

We have to look at the budget and see what sponsors are able to contribute, because no, the.

A planning collaborative, right? Does not have a budget.

Uh, and any money it does raise goes to help. The candidates that we… endorse the slate of candidates for the right work week.

Might put that money into. Actually promoting them.

Um, but, uh…

Wait a minute, as you know, if our money is going to go towards the camp… Betsy.

You want to sell me… I think… so I am… I am acting proactively.

To say that right here, I hope to be able to say.

Brain cancers, watch the sponsor, and can put up money. If we're not ready to do that, then I'll just.

Deliver the information.

Betsy, you've raised another issue. Can I please get clarification? You've raised the issue that the money that we raise will go to support the slate. Is that what you said?

Did I misunderstand?

No, because we are raising the money for the convention. But other money gets raised.

Okay, good. Because that would endanger our status.

Later here. So right now, it's just…

Uh, we take, you know, it's… the bill is gonna be about $400.

To have the convention indoors in a place with decent internet.

And tables and chairs. It'll be a little more if we wanna… have to. But basically, the budget…

You know, it's not huge. A few hundred dollars, and we don't have to put in $200, but I…

Robert can confirm this, but I believe we have over $5,000 in the bank.

As you speak. So, you know.

I have to decide now about… I would like to test the waters.

I would be in favor of voting. I would be in favor of voting to give them $200.

Yeah.

If and when they book a place. Until then, I do not want to give the PTU $200 of our money.

Okay, so get a proposal.

So, let's make a distinction. That we can be… we can… it's like a… it's like a Kickstarter, I would…

It's like a Kickstarter.

Until we have a $5,000 deposit. We have to give the Senior Center a $5,000 deposit.

Now, we know Greg Panthers doesn't have to pay off. I'm sorry, $500 deposit.

We don't have to pay all that. But there has to be some… people, you know, ponying up.

That closet. Uh, and that's where I'm at.

What's that got to do with whether or not we give $200 towards renting the place?

I don't see what the deposit has to do with that.

Well, that money is hard cash, so we can't promise. If he promised $100 to contribute.

Then, uh, it's still not possible to book the. And you said, you don't want to put any money in.

So we booked the place, and that's not possible to book the place.

Someplace.

So what are you saying? That they're never going to be able to book the place?

Without the deposit. But I feel…

Revisit this. We can revisit this. It's not ready.

Okay, let's get some more information and be revisited, if you don't mind. I'd like to get some clarity.

Okay. So, I've still… I've got 3 people that wanted to share, should we…

I guess we'll go ahead and call on them, and then move on to something else.

Dirk? Please.

Clearly, we are not endorsing a political candidate. For the rent for golf us. We are merely discussing.

Giving them some money to book a place. Is that correct?

Didn't understand. Are we giving them the money to book the place?

Yes.

That's what we're discussing. Well, I think we're tabling it for now, unless I'm mistaken.

Yep. Well, I always think it in two parts. Why don't we take… why don't we take this.

Part. If there's a motion. To… I would like to… I would like to know.

There's support for us continuing. To participate in the Resport Convention Planning team.

As its monitor. We've done it for years. Are we continuing?

We haven't given them money for 8 years. We haven't given them money, unless I'm mistaken, for 8 years.

I don't… I don't… I can't understand. I can't understand internal. You need to translate.

Isn't that true?

Dave said, we haven't given them money for 8 years, is that true?

I have no idea. I don't think we've given them any money since I've been president.

Coping enough, you know? Yeah. But other people were part, you know, other…

Other, uh, board members for partisan planning team, Eleanor Walton. Was the last one.

No, I don't think we'd be giving them money, but… I'm working around computers.

You know, I'm only gonna have… Okay.

Dirk? Dirk, did you want to share… you need to take your hand down if you don't want to share.

I just want to second the idea. Tet table first. Idea until we have more clarity.

Second, second.

Yeah, I'm… raised my hand for this, yeah.

Yeah, I agree with that, too.

Okay, stables.

Carol, did you have something else to share?

Well, I was just gonna say. Berkeley Tenants Union has.

An expansive mailing list. Um, and so… and they charge dues.

It's not clear why they can't pay themselves for the rental of a room.

This is essentially… hand-picked Berkeley Tenants Union candidates.

Which they basically end up reaffirming. After election, let me finish, and.

Well. Yes, ma'am.

I don't believe in loyalty oaths, I don't believe in autocracy, I don't believe in dictatorships.

This is all what we're facing nationally. So, I don't think it's a reason to support things, but I do believe in tenants' rights.

That's what I want to say, but it's been tabled anyway. Thank you.

Okay. No. I'm sorry.

Table. Yes. We're tabling the issue.

Okay, both, both. Being part of it, and… oh!

All right.

If I'm understanding, if I… and I hope it's okay, Carol, I think what I'm understanding with what I can hear.

There was another thing that Betsy wanted to know if. The other thing was us being involved in the planning. Is that what… is that what I heard? So there is also…

There's two parts. Uh, funding, which is being tabled. The other part is, do we want to be involved in the planning? Is that…

What you're asking, Betsy? Part of the planning committee.

Yeah, I… yeah. Gotcha. I have a going…

I think that… and that… Hold… okay.

And that doesn't come with having to be funding anything. I think we're just trying to form.

Who wants to be a part of that, but we need to know that, so if we're interested in being a part of the committee, I think that's what you're moving forward, or as a question to us, yes?

Yeah, that is, uh… It is a committee with representatives.

Okay.

Of sponsoring organizations. With straps being solidified.

Kudos are. Great Catherine just did one for…

A decade, I don't know. Maybe longer.

So, I mean, just to get things going, I move that.

We form a committee to help with the planning of this upcoming, which I think you're saying is in November?

I don't think we need to plan a committee, we just need consent.

Uh, one, you know, representative, which I've been doing. But I'd like at least one other person who can.

Contracting to be a backup. So, I think we're close.

To the motion. It is, uh… But yes, do we want to be part of this planning collaboration.

We do not have to form our own committee fees.

Okay, so that already exists. Basically. Asking to have a…

Somebody to come along with you with this planning so you're not doing it alone.

Yeah, I… I've been thinking of Michael Hegnerky. He's… he's not here today, but he is the member who's active.

On other of the… Berkeley housing issues and…

Uh, you know, one of the… one of the graduates members attended the Union.

And might be able to… feedback. Someone else.

Okay. Yeah. Yeah, I'm understanding you're kind of inviting… inviting somebody if they're also interested, but you have somebody also in mind. I think that's great.

So, it's really just really just formally does the membership. You know, we could wish to recommend to the board if there's more decisions.

To be made. But yeah, I would love to get an affirmation that.

We do… we do… that great parents should still be involved in the conversation.

About serves on the Red Board. Part of my take on it.

Wanted to have a genius, please check that email.

Because we're among the… yeah. Dominated by…

Aye. I was a cow student at one time.

I feel like we need to keep bringing up the voices of older and disabled.

Whatever her name is. Yeah, what's her first name?

Thanks.

I'm sure this is something you can handle, Betsy, if we don't need a vote, is that correct?

Mora, yeah. So, uh, CC, Rick.

You know, there are hands up, and… I want to say that part of the obligate… there's an obligation.

Alright, hard work. What's the name of that group?

When you, uh, get involved in the planning. So there's…

Dirk, can you put yourself on mute?

Yeah.

So, there's an obligation when you become part of this. That you will… you have to take a loyalty…

World War II. That's from first concert.

That you cannot support or endorse anybody else. Regardless of who they turn out to be.

Without knowing who the candidates are. You're essentially giving… relinquishing your democratic rights.

I want the ticket for me, and… 4 tickets per kiss.

By agreeing to be part of this planning process.

I can't hear what anybody's saying with all the talk over. Carol, can you recollect this somehow so we can actually just move forward?

Of words.

Yeah. Dirk… Dirk?

Cross-size sales fees.

Dirk! You need to put yourself on mute, we can't hear.

Where is that fuse?

Okay, um, I'm gonna call on Julia.

Okay, alright, I've got my mute off now. Okay, I'm a member of the Berkeley Tenants Union.

And, uh, actually, I think I'm still a member of the steering committee.

But…

Excuse me, I'll turn this off. What I wanted to say is we need some people to go to that, uh.

To go to that planning convention, because the people that run it have been running it, uh, one of them is just really intent on making up rules and oaths and crap like that, which I… certainly oppose. And the last time I voted in it, I even had to swear an oath in order to be able to vote, which had never been the case before.

And I… so I would really like us to get people in there.

Who would try to put a halt to this kind of thing. There's only one person that… and I'm not going to name names, who's really into that kind of thing.

But that person seems to have a lot of, uh… weight in making decisions, so I think it's important that we put somebody in that.

Because the… you know, it's a tenant, the rent board is very important to me.

And, uh, I'm really interested in getting good, you know, getting good people on the board.

Uh, I suffered one year, then had to pay several hundred dollars a month for a number of years, because one year the rent, uh, the landlords took over the rent board.

So, I'm very aware that we tenants need. To have the right people on the rent board in order to make it service in our best interest.

Uh, that's all I have to say right now. But I do encourage people to, um.

To… to help Bepsi. With, uh… I feel a little awkward, you know, volunteering myself, since I'm also a member of the tenants' Union.

Feels a little like I'm riding divorces at the same time, or something.

Uh, but I encourage the rest of you to join in.

That's all I have to say right now. Thank you.

Okay. Dirk?

I just want to make sure an over-publicity, we have ourselves as a.

A falter of a run fork.

I'm sorry, I didn't understand what you said.

Or perhaps someone else could interpret. We want to be a sponsor of the Rent Board.

He wants it made public, I think, so to give us credit.

Is that correct, Dirk?

Yeah, on Sir, literature, yes.

Yeah, on the literature, he's saying that we should, uh, it should be clear that we are a sponsor.

Of this.

Yeah.

They didn't vote…

That might cost us $200.

Well, the money we put on hold… But we were going to vote on whether we want to support the Rent Board.

Uh, can see all in favor?

Um, and… how… well, uh, any…

Okay, I don't see… I see three hands up, but I don't see any… I'm assuming… wait a minute…

I'm not sure exactly what we're voting on.

That's… So am I. Betsy, what are you trying to say?

I'm unclear what you're asking for.

We can continue this. Because, uh, we can continue this conversation at the board meeting.

Okay, we'll talk about this on the board. We'll talk about this further at the board meeting on October… in the first week in October.

It'll be the first Wednesday in October at 1.30 p.m. And all members are welcome to attend.

So that said, however. I do want to say, Carol, hostage-based raised.

A really important issue, which is that. Decision Friday.

Self, you know, self-organized collaborative. That plan to convention decides things like the questions that will be asked.

And the criteria. That candidate, people who want to be endorsed.

Have to abide by. And there's, uh, there's also…

Agreement stuff to members of the collaborative, like our organization. Would abide by, which is that.

Uh, we would not endorse any candidates, but we would not endorse.

People who… which we don't do, but we wouldn't endorse. Even Carol, who ran for the rent board, and she was…

You know, a great Panther member. We did not endorse her, not just.

Because we don't… there's candidates, but because… We, uh, because we have an agreement that, as a sponsor of this.

Convention, we will support the slate, and the slate only. And we don't campaign for the slate.

But we don't campaign for anyone else, either. That's… That's the organization. That doesn't mean individuals.

And I think… Okay, we've tabled the discussion until the board meeting. Let's see what that… Okay, and I will just say, we could get the current, the new.

Chair of the steering committee at the Berkeley Tenants Union could come in, and it's not… It's a new space who's doing good work, and we could ask.

Ask them to. Tell us a little more about what their thoughts are on the process.

They're not sharing the convention planning team. Okay. Okay, I'll stop there.

I see Patrick's hand and David's hand, so let's say… hear from Patrick first, and then David.

Patrick? Can you unmute?

He's not responding. David?

Betsy, I'm a little more confused than ever, so I want a little clarity before we move on.

Um, my understanding was our nonprofit status would be endangered. If we endorsed candidates, we can endorse issues.

Relate in some, however small way, to… to our mission. Supporting elderly. But, um, but we can never support candidates, so I'm not sure what you were saying with, we didn't endorse.

Carol, but we might have, but we didn't. It's very confusing to me, and I don't know what it means, then, when we sign an oath, since we can't endorse candidates.

To support the slate and not support anyone else. When we can't make endorsements.

Have I… have I misunderstood? I would like to understand that much before we move on.

As an organization, we wouldn't put out public statements endorsing. A particular candidate, but we always… candidate.

We can't. Legally, we can't. Isn't that true?

We can do. I'm sorry, what?

We legally can't endorse candidates without endangering our nonprofit status. Isn't that true?

Um, it's… I think that's the least…

Issue. Not to David. If we were… partisanly for particular candidates.

Yeah, it's true, it's true.

Yes, among the million nonprofits. That are operating in California. It's possible.

That someone might report us, and it's possible there might be.

A question about it, and it's very pos… it's possible. That, uh, there could be repercussions.

It's so unlikely. I think it's more important that we.

We are committed, one way or another, that we don't. You know, we're not actively.

As an organization, we're not stuffing for candy. We can certainly individually, as members, have preferences.

And we can also educate the public on why we. Support certain processes.

But that's different than naming names and giving money to their campaigns.

I… I just think… I just think it's dangerous, from everything I know.

Yes, from a caution…

It's dangerous for us to say specifically. The gray panthers support the Rent Board Slate.

That's what I think.

Yeah. Um, I'm involved in several different 501c3 organizations. And we're… and I do the newsletter for the Berkeley Retired Teachers.

And we… when I'm doing my newsletter, I can't even put in endorsing any candidates. I can put in about issues.

And that's the same with CARA. We can… we can, uh… do issues, but we cannot endorse.

What we did for Proposition 50, we cannot do for the rent board slate.

Specific candidates. It's very clear.

Right, because that's an issue, that is not a candidate.

Can I put up my hand? Again, Carol, when the time comes.

Right.

Okay, Patrick, um… you can't…

You can't, uh… speaks of what…

Patrick, you said you don't have your microphone hooked up, but I see your hand up.

Is he in chat? In chat, he said that he can't… he doesn't have his microphone hooked up.

Oh, okay. No.

My computer is not working properly. I'm not able to raise my hand.

But I just want to say I agree with… with David and Haley said. It's true. Mm-hmm.

Okay. Dirk?

Well, I'm a triple non-profits, and that's the case. For all of, uh… Anthroxy is true, but not the candidate. So, I'm going both work days from Betsy.

Everybody is saying the same thing, and after… unnecessary dick, though.

We're not… Okay, well, I think it's time we move on to something else.

I'm sorry, brain's just walking. Okay, we're gonna leave the rent board to the…

Board meeting on first Wednesday of. October.

Okay, and I'll… I can say more then about why I think it's valuable for us to stay on the planning team.

And be a sponsor. Okay, you can say it then.

We need to let this go for now.

Carol, where is the meeting going to be held on the first Wednesday?

For the executive board.

The board meeting will be held at 1.30 p.m. On the first Wednesday of October.

It's gonna be on Zoom. Yeah.

Aware, the location. Oh, thank you, thank you so much. Okay. The same meeting ID, everything the same. Okay, thank you.

Let's see… Oh, thank you.

First Wednesday of October is the 1st.

This next week.

Okay, then… the next, um…

Recommendations to Board. Betsy, what is that? Well, that was to make sure we leave time to…

Vote if we're gonna vote. Okay, so then the next point is… upcoming topics and speakers.

Um, uh, so… Um.

I feel the communication is so bad, I can't really… page much, but right now, there's…

Carol had, um. You know, we participate.

About 4… It's a great Panther members.

Participate with the homeless, uh. With a group that's doing advocacy in Berkeley.

For, um… people who are… Uh, unhoused.

And, uh, there's a group that's working to create a safe parking program.

For RVs and vehicle dwellers and or tiny house. Village on a public street. We're, we're…

You've been talking to folks, and Maria Soule has been very active, Carol has been very active, I've been out of town.

But otherwise active, and I'm hoping. To get, uh, a couple of reports on where.

Uh, homeless… homelessness policies are going. And Carol Morosevic has.

Like, 3 or 4 points set. She brought up in a conversation with me, and I'm hoping.

She'll go through that. Um, because there's a lot of backlash now.

And, uh… We're, like, one of the few organized.

Group, uh, community groups that is actively supporting. You know… this issue from the point of view of the voices of.

People with lived experience, including our own members. Seniors, as I keep repeating, seniors and disabled adults are the…

Most growing category of people becoming homeless. And, um, the city… Uh, auditor has suggested recommendations, the city.

Homelessness committee, not commission, but the staff. Have made a report.

You know, both those came down last week, and there's a lot of… off of citizen and business opposition to…

Continuing programs that support our unhoused neighbors, so… maybe Kel can say a little more about that issue, the issues, and…

Recommendations coming out of this, uh. Her experiences with this, uh…

Berkeley, safe parking, and Tiny Home Village Working Group.

It looks like Carol's no longer in the meeting. Well, then let's talk… let's…

If you want, Betsy, I'm on the meeting, and I'm also a part of the group, if you want that, but otherwise, you can table it to next meeting.

No, that's right. Helen, Helen is another active… person. I think, uh, do you want to say a little bit about the meeting that was yesterday with, uh, Ben Bartlett?

Sure, if that's what you want help with, I'm very happy to do that.

Yes.

Um, I'll go ahead now, if that's okay. Yeah, yesterday, Tiny Village Spirit Homes had a meeting with Ben Bartlett.

And the meeting actually got some traction. Um, I actually had opportunity to speak with Ben Bartlett after the meeting.

And he kind of spoke further about how he would like to.

Make this something that… he's, uh, kind of leading, so he, in some ways, uh, wanted… is very involved.

Um, I… I am in, uh. District 2 is Tara Taplin's district.

And I do know that Terry Taplin is one that's not 4, but when I posed that to Ben Bartlett.

He said that he would… get involved with helping the group in organizing it to see if he can get buy-in, and he felt.

Good about getting majority of the council members. Involved and wanted to put the time in which.

Uh, was amazing. So, the group must have, um. I wasn't in the meeting, I was there after the meeting.

Um, the group put on a fantastic presentation. And then really was able to grasp the concepts and ideas. So, um…

And all it went well, and I'm just grateful with how much effort the group put into this.

That everybody played a significant role in the parts of the meeting they led.

If there's any questions, happy to answer questions. I'm not sure how many people know what tiny homes.

Village spirit is… Um, I could give you a little bit more information, but Betsy wanted me to just sort of report on the meeting, and I hope that was clear enough.

Thank you, thank you, Helen. I'm not hearing anything from Betsy.

Yes? Oh, I'm… did I… I'm here. I'm here, and I put my hand… please, let me…

I'd like to respond briefly. Please do. So, is that all right, Carol? Go ahead.

Okay, so thank you, Helen. Um, I'm… I'm going to… getting me on to them.

Sure. Okay. So… Oh, okay. Alright.

You hung up there? Yeah.

Quick, quick, click like button. Sounds good.

You're supposed to speak.

Oh, there we go, there we go.

There's range, oops.

So, um, yeah, thank you, Helen.

Um, and I see Patrick has a hand up, so…

This is, um… what I wanted to say, two things, so…

Uh, Terry… so…

What Carol appraised me on was, um…

several things. So, one, city council just

canceled because of all the pushback, two public toilets.

That had been planned

As an amenity to all Berkeleyans, but especially for folks who are living on the streets.

Two public toilets have been canceled because of backlash.

from a neighbor's group called Beautiful San Pablo,

And we had voted to support those toilets. I mean, we…

We weren't making them happen, we just generally have been supportive.

of, uh, you know, making life a little easier.

And, uh, certainly from… so…

That, in addition to this,

Uh, the…

I just am aware there's much more opposition

Especially in Terry Taplin's District 2.

As well as District 3, where Ben Bartlett is,

And in District 1, with Rashi Keshwarwani. So there has been…

On the one hand, we're…

getting reports about

all the good progress to house people who are unhoused,

But, uh…

On the other hand, the city is still having sweeps, or taking action. It's not as bad as it was.

And citizens and businesses are trying to basically eliminate

any kind of public-facing homeless services. I'm exaggerating, but you get the idea.

So, um…

uh… what…

Some of the best practices that I heard from Carol, uh, that… that Ben

recommended. He… is he said, focus. Focus on a particular…

Target group, like seniors.

Right? So…

Seniors are fast-growing in the homeless field, sadly,

And they are underserved by shelters.

And other programs.

Um, uh, we also have a strong, I think, need for more mental health

uh, you know, active mental health outreach. So, gray panthers and standing up for a senior

safe parking programs is actually a natural.

So, I feel like that's something I would… I… I'm hoping we get clarity on, that we could pursue.

You know, in support of what other groups are doing, but to get them on board,

Because the city is in a deficit,

A two-year deficit that was kind of hidden.

from us a little bit, but there is a deficit, there's no new money, there's no new monies.

For homeless services, and um…

So the strategy of asking City Council to somehow bless a project…

That is just very ill-defined.

So far, there's support for this.

safe parking, but I just want to remind that. Also, you know, Helen is in a district, uh, Shoshana, I think her name is the council member.

And that's someone we could talk to, so there is a committee,

Coming up, called Community Life.

And well-being or something like that. There's a committee with Igor…

Shoshana and…

I'm blanking, maybe Cecilia Lunapara.

Um, and that, that, uh, Carol had information about how we could talk to them about support.

And where, um, some additional funds.

could come from in the way of mental health services. But I'm going… I'm kind of broad. I'm sorry, I'm losing focus.

Um, so if anyone would be willing to go to that,

that, uh, council, committee,

and speak up for this, that's great. We… we should…

hopefully talk this further.

Um, we do have a commitment

to speak up and stand up for

you know, not just seniors, but disabled adults, and I feel like we've done a really good track record

But in this case, uh, that message, in the case of our homeless advocacy, sometimes that message gets a little

lost. So…

Um, if we want…

to have further discussion.

and support, um…

I'd love to hear that. But uh… but I know, um…

Carol, I'll just pause, and this is something we may have to pick up again with speakers.

and future topics.

at our next meeting, so…

Yeah, and you know, thanks, Betsy, and I, um, again, just to clarify here, I'm coming from giving an update on the meeting yesterday when I spoke to Ben Bartlett after the meeting.

And asked a few other questions. And so I'm just sharing what… where his interests are, and what he noticed.

Uh, because, you know, he knows I'm on the Commission on Disability, and we had, you know, he was wondering. So, but with that being said.

Um, Ben Bartlett had an interest in a sheltering, you know, women.

Um, that was an interest that he had. And I know that we should be focusing and attending maybe members of this group would like to come to these meetings.

Because I do think it's our unhoused. Community members that are involved with.

Doing this, that we're listening to their lived experiences. I know we have interest here with the Gray Panthers, but I don't think we should be steering.

The work that they are doing, and I think we should be joining the meetings and listening to their.

Interests, um, and I appreciate, you know, uh. All the involvement we've had. I know Betsy's been working hard on this as well as Carol.

And we're making some great progress. And, um, everybody who left the meeting, uh, really felt good.

About, uh, how well they did. They've been meeting with other people.

And so this is a long process that I think they've been doing a really good job on.

But, uh, those meetings maybe would help if. We added that so members might be able to go when the tiny village home meetings are, and maybe, you know, members here can go, because a lot of people have a lot of knowledge in this area.

And that's just my thoughts. Thank you.

So, I think it's just an update, and that, um, about 5 of us are

in… as you hear, it's…

A number of us are at these, uh, sometimes weekly, sometimes

twice a month, um, gatherings, uh, in conversation, and then occasional meetings with council members.

Um, so, obviously, we don't necessarily have one mind here.

Um, can I make one… I'd like to make one other… this is an announcement that Carol…

mentioned to me that is of interest for those who are working on mental health issues.

I don't know who here is interested in that, but you know,

Uh, I will just say that the disability rights

advocates? Is that what they're called? The… the lawyers.

Who sued on behalf of residents of the Alameda County, and including one resident of Berkeley.

Sued the county regarding. Um, bad conditions at… John George.

Is that the name? And Santa Rita Jail. Those are, like, forcible admissions for people with a mental…

Breakdown, or, you know, some kind of endangering people. You know, forcibly sending people there, and it costs a…

Several million… it costs in the million dollars and more range for this city of Berkeley to send people.

To these, uh… somewhat dangerous and badly working facilities.

Um, so, uh, this disability rights advocates, Helen probably knows. Knows them, are in negotiations.

And no one at the City of Berkeley in Carol Morosevic's experience is really… asking for some of the settlement money.

Which would be helpful. In other words, the mental health commission.

Is supposed to be negotiating, but… Uh, uh, uh, no one here is able to tell us that, but Carol Morasovich was saying.

You know, this… this needs to be brought up to city council members.

As well as city staff. Because right now, uh… it's unclear that anyone is asking for some of that settlement money, which could help.

That particular aspect. Of the, um… homeless services, especially.

For people with… with… mental illness. It would help.

It would help anyone who's forcibly hospitalized. So I'll just leave that, uh, leave it at that.

Thank you, and other people may have comments about that, but… I'm good, Carol.

Um, care… Carol?

I hope you'll come back and facilitate, but otherwise, I'm going to step in for a minute.

And say, the agenda. Of other upcoming topics and speakers is that, um.

Um, outgoing board member, Christy Martin. Is stepping down, and she will not be… she's not looking to serve on the board again.

Um, but she has had a long-standing topic of interest that.

Um, is shared by a person… by Dirk Neyhart, who we… who has expressed interest, and the board.

Is likely to put forward his name. So that is in medical-assisted, uh.

Aid in dying. And that's an issue that Christie has… passionately pursued here in Berkeley with the Health Department and.

There's a state commi… a state committee. That's working on this, and uh… She offered an old friend of hers who is an expert in the bioethics of assisted.

Um, um, death… assisted dying. Like in Switzerland. In fact, he lives and works in Switzerland, where.

You can apply for assistance suicide. That's not the right term. Anyway, that's a possible topic coming up.

Maybe this winter, even in November or December. So…

I see… I think we're… we might be ready to… to… to… to close this, but uh… Are there other announcements.

Besides the ones that are listed in the. In the program, in the agenda.

Are there any additional reports to be made here? Hi, Nancy?

Oh, and Carol is back, okay. I'll turn it over to Carol after calling on Nancy. You've got your hand up.

Hi, just… If Carol wants to go first, I can make my rate way back into my room where it's quiet. I do have an issue.

Well, she… she's… she would be taking back. Moderating this meeting.

Ah, gotcha. Okay, so I have, um, an issue that was brought to my attention.

Um, about a transgender woman who's 33 years old. Um, she was in, um, UCI, and over 100, uh, or hundreds, I should say, just over 200.

Um, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and licensed and unlicensed small beds.

Um, all refused her, and there's, um, there's loads of evidence. They did some digital forensics.

All over the place, because it was suspicious that no one was going to accept her, even though they had numerous open beds available for her to, uh, recover. She was hit by a car and became a quadriplegic.

Um, she also had stage 4 pressure wounds that went unreported. Um, but the… the notations and documentations in communications.

Um, within the nursing homes, uh, to the hospital, which are deleted, um, and they're not supposed to be, but they were deleted.

Um, they recovered the, um… the communications, and it said, um, there were, like.

Degrading comments about transgender, and they weren't going to accept a transgender person.

Um, things like that. And so, um… One, there's, uh, imminent arrests that are gonna be made here soon.

Um, by the, uh, homicide detectives, they're going into unlicensed. Um, the unlicensed, uh, six-bed homes.

Uh, that refused to take her. But, um, they're also gonna be, um, sending over.

Uh, to other law enforcement at the highest level to do investigations on this.

So I'm asking for a support letter. Um, from all gray panther's organizations across the country, we're also asking for any media connections to be made.

Um, you can do that through me and her representatives. And her lot… law firm's, um… uh, immediate connection.

And I sent that over… you're welcome, I sent that over in an email to you and Carol.

Thank you, Nancy.

Some details.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I'd like to make an announcement also. Carol.

Go ahead, Cecilia.

I just wanted to say that the Healthy Living Festival. That's United Seniors gives it every year.

At the zoo, we have a health and living festival every year at the zoo.

From 9 a.m. To 2 p.m. And if you want to attend that affair, please call the office at 510…

510, um… And that's something.

United Seniors, like, you know… 852.

Okay, I wanna know. 890852.

829? 0852. Now, what… what's the date again?

0852. Hmm…

Oh, I'm sorry, the date is… it's Thursday, this coming Thursday.

From… from 9… from 9 to 2. This coming Thursday at the Oakland Zoo.

Mara.

Okay.

And, uh, it's the kind of thing where there's buses, you can ask for a ride to go there.

To the Oaklands… Yes, ma'am.

Oh, Matt's like, you got to contact the office. Because they have buses that will pick you up at certain senior centers.

A different thing is managed. So you have to contact the office and speak to Mary.

Mary Bread. She's assistant, um…

Since this isn't so…

You got a table. We had a table at the… at that event one year, a while ago.

Thank you.

Oh, you're already taking care of it, that's good.

Oh, no, no, it was the past year. It was some years ago.

Oh, yeah, right, every year that.

Living Festival at the zoo. It was at the, uh… the church on San Pablo.

Where we had the table.

And you're right. And one year, I think, rains just on its own went… it must not have been a gray panther table.

If that was for the convention, for the United States Convention.

Oh, okay. Okay. So, um…

That's what I was, uh-huh.

I went to the Healthy Living Festival, but I never got to the zoo.

I went up and down 3 rows of… of… uh, tables.

And collected things, and I got some interesting things. One was a little… stuffed zebra.

But then I… I got heat exhaustion. And, um, I was having trouble with AFib, but they didn't diagnose it until a month later, and then I got my pacemaker.

Wow. Um.

So, uh… there were some other… Carol, can I…

Yes, please. I wasn't prepared to moderate today.

Just proceed with announcements and go over the ones. Okay, thanks. And then…

You did an incredible job, as far as I'm concerned.

You know, I'm sorry. You know, that telephone number is still an 829-729.

72908. The telephone number is 5…

Say again? Okay, 7…

729-0852. I'm sorry, because I…

And so it's… it's tomorrow, is that right? Ms. Cecilia? Okay.

Yeah, it's tomorrow. Yeah, it's somewhere from 9 to 2.

Uh, there's something… there's something else going on tomorrow. Um.

This healthy li… this, uh, health… and well-being committee of the Berkeley City Council, I think, is also meeting tomorrow, but…

I'll have to get confirmation of that. If anyone wants to go and hear.

Thoughts about some of the issues we've talked about today. Thank you, thank you, Ms. Cunning.

Miss Cecilia. Alright, so, uh, what I've… Uh, in the announcements, in the program.

Um, um… October 18th is another No Kings National Day of Protest.

And I got word. Of, uh, an event at the corner of San Pablo and University Avenue.

Uh, and I'm not sure where the other events will be in Berkeley or Oakland, but, um… I did want to see if there is an interest in having a gray panther presence.

With our banner, uh, I know some of you will be there anyway, you know, you'll be wherever.

But is… is there… are there some people that, uh. Could, uh, you know.

Are interested in… in being, you know, I'd like to go, and I'm more likely to go if I'm.

Part of a message, you know, so it would be quite wonderful if we, since we have three, four weeks.

Three weeks to plan that we could have. Not just our banner, but also signs representing the issues that were.

Concerned most about. Personally, I wanted to advocate for toilet… a public toilet, but that's me.

Um, um, but if there's a couple of people, I see Carol has her hand up.

And, um, if there's others who will be in town in… you know, around to show up in person.

Um, great. Um, and it will be after our board meeting, so we can talk a little more about.

That at the board meeting as well. So, Carol, you have your hand up, and I'll put you down as interested.

Planning. Usually, Robert, who seems to have dropped off, uh. Robert's always, you know.

Has raised his hand. Did you wanna… say something, Robert?

Yeah. Yeah, I'm posting as a banner, so I could bring the banner.

Okay. Okay.

And, uh, Robert and Carol, so… We'll be sharing more info about that, and if you are at another event, let us know. Dirk, I see your hand is up. Did you want to…

Share. Are you interested in being there with us?

Rope things, whereas the venue and time place.

Which, which, uh, which event? Oh, well, there's multiple…

No kings.

Rallies, there's multiple gathering places by different groups. I'm assuming all over the Bay Area.

Uh, that's how it worked last… the last No Kings Day, but there's one event right at University in San Pablo, which is a few blocks from me.

Uh, and there'll be other ones in Berkeley, so I'm looking to see.

We… can we show up somewhere with our Gray Panther banner and some signs that represent.

Our concerns. Yeah, Holly.

Yeah, is there any place to sign up? I know a lot of times, Indivisible puts up.

A sign-up sheet for these things. Is this… a registered event so that people can sign up for it and show that they're coming.

Yes. Yes. Yes.

And no pinks.

Okay.

There's a map of events and a… Okay, Dirk knows that too. There's… there's… I'm… I… a Quaker friend sent me a notice saying there's going to be an event at University in San Pablo, all four corners.

Is planned. I don't… I assume it's indivisible, but we can still show up as Grey Panthers.

Yeah, they've done that before. Right, um, can you send that out to the list?

Yeah. I will… let me make a note, because, um…

It would be good… it would be good to have that out to everybody.

To… but I know there's other events. Yeah, I'll send the link to… the notice about that one.

Right, because I have in the past gone to, uh. To do stuff with acapella at… The, uh, no kings in Oakland, but I'd much rather be staying in Berkeley, and I could bring.

A small sound system and play music.

Ooh, nice.

Sweet. Nice, yeah. Uh, okay, so I'll send it…

Yeah.

Uh, to… uh, uh, to… especially…

The four people, but you'll probably all get it, along with the invitation to the board meeting.

Right, and then I could send it out to other people.

Sure. Yeah. I'm looking forward to it. I'll be back.

Um, okay, thank you all. Um, October… So, October 3rd.

The first Wednesday, I… October 1st, I'm sorry, is our board meeting, first Wednesdays. Usually, we're trying to stick to that.

Uh, the member socials that Carol. Organizes second Wednesdays.

And she may have an announcement about that. Um, and then October 22nd is our next.

Um, what would be a speaker meeting, but it's our annual member meeting and board elections, so… We do tend to focus on local elections.

Um, um, or local… you know, things that are of, of, of, uh, around the election season.

But we also devote time to ourselves, to our history. And, you know, um… members, you know, concerns, so…

Um, we'll be… Carol and I will be planning that, and the board also.

So, um… I will… yeah. Carol, any final words, or…

The social… The social…

Any other announcements that people want to make? And then we'll have…

The socialists coming up on the second Wednesday.

Carol?

The social that's coming up on the second Wednesday of October.

Will not be at the deli, it'll be at, uh…

Oh, I don't remember the name of it. It'll be over on Dowditch.

I think it's called The Hub. It's Boutage, yeah, and…

The hub.

And we can arrange rides, because parking is pretty tight, or you pay for parking, basically.

Yeah, and it'll be potluck. We… if we want anything to eat or drink, we have to bring it.

You know, try to bring something to share.

Sweet. Um, I see that Helen has her hand up, please.

Share.

Yeah, thank you. Um, this I posted, because they do a lot of posts on the Gray Panthers, uh, Berkeley East Bay Grand Panthers site.

And I just wanted to, uh, raise up this. Uh, Disability Rights California.

Is, uh, holding a webinar, and if you're a renter with a disability in California and have questions about evictions.

Learn about your rights in this workshop. Which will cover eviction notices, requirements, what to do if you receive an eviction notice.

And tips for resolving or preventing these issues. Uh, this is a webinar that will be on Tuesday, October 7th.

At 1PM. And the information is on our Facebook site, but if anybody is interested, I am more than happy to forward this to.

Betsy or, uh, Carol, uh, to get out, because I think this might be helpful for folk.

Thank you.

Great. And, um… I did want to… yeah.

Oz has her hand up.

Alice, you're on mute.

Carol?

I… I don't actually see, uh, Alice… Oh, here we go.

She's on mute.

So I'll ask her to unmute. Hopefully she can hear.

Oh, yeah, I… I didn't know how to unmute, so I was writing… I don't know how to unmute.

And Dirk put us… oh, yeah.

Um, I'm sorry, I often don't know that the meetings are going on.

And, um, I'm having a problem with the city of Berkeley.

I… you've dropped off…

Yes?

Yes.

Yeah.

Uh, I've dropped… can you hear… can anybody hear me? Oh, okay. So, um, the City of Berkeley has been harassing me for being autistic and dyslexic for the last 3 years, and they're…

They're saying… they're giving… telling me I have code violations, and I've cleaned up my property considerably, and I don't know what to do, and I just am reaching out.

To ask if anybody can give me any advice or help. I mean, their requests are pretty much unreasonable. I have metal cabinets around the outside of my property, and I'm not talking, like, tons of them. I have a file cabinet where I keep paint inside, because.

Actually, if paint is combustible, it's best if it's in a metal cabinet, not in a wood cabinet where it can catch fire.

And they're saying that I have this small refrigerator where I keep cat food for feral cats.

And I have a toolbox, and they're telling me I have to… I can't have those on my property.

Or on my front porch, and my front porch has plenty of room for fire department to walk up to.

And they're saying that my organizer bin is a place where rodents are going to be having harborage, and I just feel they're really unreasonable, and I don't know if this is not the place to talk about this, but I really need help.

And I just happened to see that you guys started at 1.30.

Does anyone have a resource for Alice? I see Helen's hand… Do you want to respond to Alice, Helen?

Or do you have your… a further… announcement.

Yeah, maybe the information… that I provided about, uh, people's rights with eviction notices and whatnot, which is a webinar coming up, might be helpful for you. It's specific, tailored towards people with disabilities.

Um, I believe that was you, Alice, who was asking, and I was going to send that.

Information to Betsy and Carol, and maybe when they send it out, you can take a look at it. Um, that might be helpful.

Okay, I think Betsy Morris, do you have my email? From the Quaker meeting.

If it's, um… Alice, do you want to give Helen your…

Well, so you'll be direct?

Sure. Sir…

My email is also in the chat. If you cut, copy, and paste it.

I don't know who you… who's talking, it's very hard to tell on my cell phone.

Yeah, this… this is Helen. And I am the cat in the chat.

Yeah.

Um, my email is… Brinach, B-R-A-N-A-C-H.

Okay.

At comcast.net. You can email me and ask me specific for the webinar, and I will get that information to you. It will be coming up in October 7th.

October 7th. Can you tell me your email again? Br… Yep.

Sure, are you ready? Okay, B as in Bumblebee.

Yep. Yep.

R as in radio. A as in Ant.

N as in Nancy. A as in Ant.

C as in cupcake. H as in Helen.

At Comcast. Dot net.

And then at…

And just give me a reminder, because I get a lot of emails, but I really, uh.

Would like to help where I can.

Thank you, I appreciate it. Sorry for joining you so late and missing every, like, tons of meetings.

Um, let's see, how do I go back?

That's okay. Yeah, glad you're here. Um, I put another resource in the chat.

Oh, well, welcome!

Um, it's for the Independent Living Resource Center, but that's for.

San Francisco, you can give them a call, and they'll connect you to resources wherever you are.

It's funny, because I just got off the phone with Justice and Diversity at the San Francisco Bar, and they're like.

Everybody just always says, we don't have any lawyers' experience with that kind of thing.

Do you…

So, they don't really help much. Uh, and I… I don't… I'm not… I'm not very technically savvy, and I don't know how to get around, so I don't know…

How to get to the chat part of this, either.

Um, do you have a pen and paper handy? I'll just… read it off to you.

I do. Okay.

Okay. H like Harry, T like Tom. Like Tom, P like Paul.

S like Sam? Colon, forward slash, forward slash.

Yeah.

Www.ilr.com. C, S like Sam, F like Frank, dot org.

Okay, I… Well, I mean, I feel that there should not be…

Are you looking to become compliant? With their, uh… orders, basically, or…

Them nitpicking on my property. I mean, the last light lady, her name was Prudhomme.

She was like, you know, this is America, you should be able to live like you want to live, you, you, you know, not everybody has to have a green front lawn, and my lawn is an educational… my friend of my house is an educational… garden where I grow all fruit trees.

And I educate the kids on honeybees and where almonds come from, and, you know, kids… Get to learn a block and a half away from Malcolm X.

And, uh, you know, I have so many people who come by and say, I walked 10 blocks out of my way just to come past your house, because I love your garden.

You know, like I said, you know, I've cleaned up my property.

And the communication skills of the people in the blight department, this particular person, I just feel very targeted, and I… Cleaned it up so… it looks so great today, and she's, like, saying, oh, you can't have, uh, milk crates in an organizer. I have one of those.

Quads, that's 6x, uh, 3x… 3x2, and she's like, oh, rodents will go and live inside those milk crates. And it's like, well, you know.

The milk crates are open and airy. I could use the, uh, the cloth ones that come with it, but I would think that you can't see inside there, and that would be worse. They just don't want me to have anything on my property, like, what's wrong with having a tiny fridge on your front porch if you have a front porch that's 6 feet long, and it only takes up 2 feet?

Right.

So…

There's still 4 feet available. So, I just think they're really unreasonable. I mean, for 2 years, they told me the vehicle in my driveway was an abandoned vehicle, and I kept looking up, it's not abandoned, I own the vehicle.

You know, it's registered to me, and she said this for 2 years, and then she finally came down with, oh, well.

It has no license plate, and it has no VIN. I'm like, it has a VIN every vehicle that was manufactured in the factory has a VIN.

So, um…

So… so, Alice, I, you know, come back. Thanks for joining.

Yeah.

I… if you can hear me. I do want to recommend.

That you get in touch with your city council member. You live near… and… and maybe that's not going to be helpful, um.

Oh, he's a backstabber, unfortunately.

But I do know that a lot of systems in Berkeley are complaint-driven, so there's some neighbor.

I think… I think they moved away 3 years ago. You know, I don't… I don't get it.

Potentially who's bugging. Well then, uh…

Okay, so I'm just saying… you know, I don't know the exact pathways, but…

Some combination of complaining to her supervisor. Um, or this person's supervisor, or… and Dave Blake probably could tell you more.

Or you're your city council member, since they are supposed to run some interference with you, if you're not actively doing something illegal.

Um, that's just my… that's just my… and the second thing is.

It sounds like you're doing great stuff, and maybe the, um… the community garden network, uh, BMUG, or the.

Berkeley Resiliency Network, you know, that promotes. Things like bee gardens… I'm just saying maybe some allies.

You… are you Betsy?

Are good, but honestly, if you're not actively doing something illegal, I don't… I don't understand. I'm sorry you're getting harassed.

I know. I don't either. Are you Betsy Morris? I see your face talking, and it's James or Betsy, okay.

I am. Yeah.

Okay. Alright, I think I have your phone.

Yeah, sorry, I didn't rename myself. Um, I know we, uh…

Yeah, Dave's gonna…

Alice, if I may? The other person I know who went through a similar difficult period and.

Is that David?

It didn't end up well for him, but may have some experience to share with you, is Asa Dodsworth.

Oh, wow. He's my neighbor.

Oh, yeah, I know Asa well. Yeah, no, I was one of the supporters, I went… I went to, uh, court with him when they were giving him a hard time about his roosters.

Um, but he's kind of, you know, I don't know, he's, you know, very domesticated now, and just taking care of kids.

But he could… he could at least commiserate and might… you know, talk about what…

Beautiful.

Yeah, I didn't think about him. I have… I have… there's a woman named, um… Uh, Ilana, Auerbach ran for council up in the northern part of Berkeley.

And, um, you know, she's on the chat, because I'm on a text chat with other people, and you know.

Like, they said that, um… You know, I pointed out, you know, the city sponsored compost bins, and I have my compost bin in my front yard. You know, the city…

Sponsored the compost bins. They want us to compost, and then they complain that we have rodents. I don't have any rodents, I have cats, and I have zero rodents, but they're telling me I have rodent harborage.

Anything could be Rodent Harborage, you know? I mean, the way they're saying it's like… I don't understand what the issue is with the metal boxes.

You know, they're not… it's not Harbridge, and the metal fridge for keeping food in is not Harborage, and.

Boxes that are empty are not harboraged. And they're right at the front door, so there's too much traffic for rats to be living in there, not to mention it's right next to where the cats are fed.

Part of the problem is that they can no longer do what they used to do, which was declare property to be a blight.

Well, that's what they're doing. They told me that I… White nose, yeah.

They… they found that in court. They found out, hold on. They found out it… they found out through the court process.

That just being a visual blight is not enough to enforce actions against a homeowner.

So, they are… but what they're doing is they're responding, as Betsy said, to a complaint.

But someone who thinks your place looks like it has unusual stuff in front of it, which doesn't look good.

And they're trying to find some way to compel you. To clean it up. And unfortunately, like Trump.

They have their hands on the wheels of government, and there's lots of painful things they can do to you. So, um, the… Whatever you do, you need to develop a Plan B.

Yeah.

Where you actually don't have those things in your front yard, just to know that you can get out of this quickly if you need to.

Because they do have the power of the… of government behind them, and, you know, ASA was fined $100 a day.

Um, until he was forced to comply.

I mean, I have complied, and that's the hard thing. I keep complying, and they have… keep, you know, they slowly take things off the complaint.

They keep coming up with new things. Because you don't look normal, but they know they can't…

Right, exactly, and they keep changing the reason.

They can't pull blight anymore. They lost on that issue.

Blight is not… Right.

So.

So, so what they call it, they call it code enforcement, and they, they still haven't… you know, but again, okay, if they say that the code is…

I'm just saying they have lots of ways to harass you, and they're bureaucrats, so they just keep going, no matter what you do.

Well, can she not, uh, appeal to the supervisor, or… of this person.

Or, you know, is there no way to… Get your yard declared a model…

I don't know. Um, not gonna happen.

Habitat Garden. Okay, I don't think then…

No, I don't think… I don't think it will work, because this is my front steps, and I understand…

What I'm gonna suggest is that, uh, you contact. Asa Dodsworth, maybe Dave could be consultative, or someone else who can.

I will.

It's not… this is really not my area of any expertise. It is ACES.

Consult with you, but we actually need to wrap up. Our meeting.

Dave, do you have a phone number? Okay.

You have his number? Asa Dodsworth?

I have ACE number, yes, yes.

And Fred… Fred, Ace's father. Or his… or his mom.

Okay, and…

Linda might be useful, too.

Uh, yeah, you think, uh, I don't know his mom, but I know, uh, Fred.

I'm calling.

And, um… There… there are, you know, these, uh, people who are…

Right, they've wanted… they've wanted to come to my garden on a lot of occasions.

They showcased permaculture gardens, you know, diverse habitat.

You know? But…

Beautiful! Cfl… I mean, they are much more better, maybe, at writing a letter to support your specific.

Strong suit, you know? That's all. Um, keep in… keep in touch.

Yeah, okay.

I doubt that will work. I really, I really think you need to address them issue by issue.

And because in the end, what you're claiming is that you're being harassed.

Wow.

Well, again, again, you know what? Right.

And then you have to fight them in court, and that's not something you don't… you want to get into, I don't think.

Actually wanted to hire a lawyer, but I can't even find a lawyer that will do this.

You know, do we know of any lawyers who would take on.

You know, the issue, because, I mean, I don't exactly know how to go up against the city in… in… in the court.

I mean, I would like to retal… you know, they're retaliating against me for God knows what, you know?

Um. You can…

You know, Ben Bartley used to walk past my house and be very cordial to me for years, and then… He got involved in this, and I was talking to his assistant, whose name I just forgot.

James Chang.

Who's also on the thread. James, who's also on the thread, and they were all very nice until the day they showed up when we were all meeting in front of my house with.

Uh, disability rights, because I'm disabled, and the vector control, and I've put in.

4 calls to vector controls, and they never return my calls, because.

They were the ones that said, the bins that I had had gnaw marks in them, but I got them with the gnaw marks, so I switched them out, and it's over a year, and there's no gnaw marks. I have no rodents at all. I have rodent traps, and I have cats.

Yeah, I'm busy. Yeah, come back later, thank you. If all right.

So, I mean, and like I said, with the vehicle.

I'm surprised that they're punishing you for… I'm surprised they're punishing you for the compost bins. That is surprising.

Well, they're actually not complaining, but they're saying that. That a ref… that a toolbox on the ground that is metal, where no.

Rodents can get underneath is creating rodent harborage. See, the thing is, it's not logical.

After some… yeah, I'll be gone at 7.

And that's why the whole thing with the truck being an abandoned truck on my property, it's not logical, because it's not a truck.

I mean, it's not abandoned, it's mine! You know, and I… yes, I know…

Um, Alice… Alice, I… I have to, uh, ask you to, uh.

Yeah. Yes.

Slow down, and hopefully you'll… you've gotten something from this. I realize it's complex and ugly.

Yes. Right.

And it goes on and on, but… here today, right now, after 2 hours on the Zoom call, we're gonna…

Yes. Yeah. It looks like Nancy had something to say.

We're gonna… we have to close out this meeting. If you're on our database, thank you for coming.

Right. Yes.

And, uh, I… I'm gonna give the floor to Nancy, and then we're gonna have a.

Okay, thank you.

Poem, and we will be back. Next month, with this kind of public…

Okay.

Speaker meeting format. Yeah, Nancy, did you… have something to… wrap up with, or…

You need to unmute, yeah.

Um, I just wanted to give you guys a quick share. Um, one, it was really nice to see everybody keep up the good work, and.

Thank you, V. Um, we've got a… an open, uh, investigation here.

Um, that's gone right to the top at my nursing home, um, but it's gone right to the top.

Um, with investigators. Um, because of… there's been a, uh, 10-plus year.

Um, sexual molestation, resident to resident. Sexual molestation cover-up.

Um, and he's incentivized because he's… he tells investigators. So, the facility tells them.

To the investigators, whether it be ombudsmen or California Department of.

Aging, or whoever it is, is that's investigating. Go talk to Martin. He sees everything, he's all over the place, so he always says.

Or usually says, I was there, that never happened, that person… lied, uh, something like that. So he gives witness testimony, and they incentivized him with.

Food, clothing, cash, all this other stuff, and he's been here for nearly 20 years.

Um, and he gets carte blanche. People just look away. They've reported, reported, reported to their supervisors and to director of nursing here, um.

But it's all covered up. They're told not to put anything in writing or in communications, and this is a widespread problem.

Um, uh, PBS did an article about. How, uh, sexual assaults.

Um, and sexual abuse. Um, information doesn't get disclosed to the public in, um.

Interviews and records and things like that. So, um… Now the ombudsman is not even… recording witness testimonies that they've taken.

Um, and we've gone to the brand new state ombudsman.

Excuse me, Nancy, I'm totally lost at what you were going to… could you start out by telling us what you expect from us?

Um, yes, I do want to ask if anybody is willing.

Um, to make either anonymous, or you can give your name, just calls that I've reported to you.

That there, um, is sexual molestation covering… cover-up. Happening here, um… At the nursing home, because it's been going on for over a decade, I hear. I've only witnessed it since I've been here, 2019, on a near-nightly basis.

Um… Yeah.

Well, nightly. Um.

Nancy, I'll… the best I can do right now is to take this to the board. I'm… pretty… we're pretty pressed.

To… to… but… I would like to encourage you to go talk to Carrie.

Yeah.

At the na… you know, on behalf of the national. Or, you know, because she has so much…

Okay. Right.

Experience with… with the, you know, how do you intervene with a nursing home that's gone rogue like that?

Right.

Um, that is pretty awful. The other suggestion I… this is a long shot, but, um…

The, uh, this… there's a new San Diego chapter, they're… they're, like, graduate students in public health, and I think they want to be… advocates in at least San Diego is closer to you. Like, if a letter from East Bay Gray Panthers were like.

Right. Yeah.

Right. Thank you.

700 miles away, but um… you know, it's huge. It's a huge issue. I, I, I…

Horrifying to hear about. Are youth safe?

Thank you.

Well, what about… what about putting one of those Ring cameras where the sexual abuse is happening? They can't catch them on camera?

I'm actually in training to get arrested, because it is, um, it's very illegal.

You know.

Um, to, uh, record anyone who lives in a nursing home, even if it's sexual abuse happening.

Um, and so I'm… I'm training, um, this week, throughout the end of the week.

Um, to get arrested, I've got $20,000 in bail. Set and two pro bono attorneys.

Um, but yeah, it's…

Wow. A bliss… oh, wow.

Hi, Beryl.

So, if the person who's…

Nancy, if you could tap me or catch my email and shoot me an email.

Uh, there's an ADAPT member that I know that's helped out the Great Panthers, who is an ombudsman.

Um, they might be able to give you some direction here. Their name is Lydia. They have a disability themselves. I would be more than happy to see if I can make that connection, but she's one of the top people that does this work.

And she's, uh, has done some work with the Great Panthers, um, when I brought her in with, with, uh, these areas. So, uh, Branaka.

Fantastic, yeah.

Net, just shoot me an email, and I will do my best to see if I can get, uh.

More advocates who specialize in this area to help you out. Sorry to hear that's happening, that's horrible.

Yeah, that's pretty widespread, um, but thank you very much, I will do that, Helen. I appreciate you all.

Uh, do you have Helen's, um, email? Or contact? Okay.

I do, yeah.

Wonderful, wow, wow. Um, inspiring.

I'm… I'm… I… I'm gonna have to get off.

Not that you couldn't continue, but we will be picking up some of these discussions.

On the board level, and then meeting again. Um… Wow. Um, thank you. I want to put a shout out to Helen.

She, uh, educated the National Grey Panther Council when it was doing its research on nursing home.

Reform and brought Lydia into that. Who was an incredible resource, so Helen is really, um…

You know, it's not all on her, but she manages, uh… A lot of the Facebook postings we do, and it's mostly about disability rights, and we…

Um, I just appreciate all of that. And she's always asking, what are we doing? And I'm always… I have to say, what are we doing not enough of?

So, I'm really happy we have those resources. Um, thank you, and uh, one last, uh, Dave, do you have a worthy poem?

Oddly enough, I think I do.

That can capture… Yeah, okay. Hopefully it captures whatever the spirit of our meeting was today, and…

No, I went so… I went a different direction entirely. But maybe, I don't know, maybe.

Okay. Well, whoa.

This is… this is a poem by Richard Wilbur, who some of you may have heard of, have heard of.

He was, uh, not as famous as Carl Sandberg. He was the Poet Laureate before Carl Sandberg.

Uh, in the… in the Eisenhower. Carol. And this poem is called Beasts.

Beasts in their major freedom. Slumber in peace tonight.

The gull on his ledge. Dreams in the guts of himself, the moon-plucked waves below.

And the sunfish leans on a stone. Slept by the Lyric water.

In which the spotless feet of deer make dulcet splashes. And to which the ripped mouse.

Safe in the owl's talon cries. Concordance. Here there is no such harm.

And no such darkness. As the selfsame moon observes where.

Worked in window glass. Its sponsors now. The Werewolf's Painful Change.

Turning his head away on the sweaty bolster. He tries to remember the mood of manhood.

But lies at last, as always, letting it happen. The fierce fur, soft to his face.

Hearing with sharper ears. The wind's exciting miners.

The leaves panic. And the degradation of the heavy streams.

Meantime, at high windows. Far from thicket and padfall.

Suitors of excellence sigh. And turn from their work.

To construe again the painful beauty of heaven. The Lucid Moon, and the Risen Hunter.

Making such dreams for men. As told, will break their hearts, as always.

Bringing monsters into the city. Crows on the public statues.

Navies fed to the fish. In the dark, unbridled waters.

And while you're continuing that, I also ran across recently a quote by W.E.B. Dubois.

Who was asked how it felt to be the first man, the first black person.

So you had a graduate degree from Harvard. A PhD from Harvard, and he said.

The honor was all theirs.

The honor was all theirs. Du Bois.

The pronounce it divorce. Du Bois.

Boys? Yeah, I never know.

Boys. All right, with that, um…

Boys, just…

Stay true to yourselves. Let's reach out and be helpful where we can, and um…

Maggie Kuhn would be 120 this year. Our founder, so… Yeah, keep roaring.

All right? Hannah, it's great to see your face, and uh… Dirk will look forward to having you on the nomination slate, um…

I'm sorry, I'll say once more, because that was a tough poem.

And, uh, more power to all of us. Okay. Last words, unmute, shout out.

Uh, hi.

I just wanted to remind people who are interested in that poem that it's called Beasts.

And it's by Richard Wilbur. Who is a great poet.

I think.

Thank… thank you.

Thanks, Betsy! Thanks, Carol! Good to see you all!

And to be seen. Take care.

I can hear you fine now.

I think next time we'll have someone else host this. Uh, our Zoom room is available for other people to actually host on, so…

It may just have been my connection that was so bad, but anyway, good to see you all.

Take care, uh, good luck, and keep in touch.

Ready? Aim…

I will say one apropos of… Alice, uh, Alice, my husband just read me a little joke yesterday that, uh.

Temple Grandin wrote, she said. If, uh, we didn't have… people with autism in the world.

Uh, the human race would still be sitting around in caves talking with each other.

So… Uh, I thought that was pretty funny. So, take care.

Yeah. Maybe. See, so, uh, there's very few of us here. Are you going to the, uh, Strawberry Creek meeting these days, or are you going to Berkeley meeting?

Okaywho sued