The Up-coming November 4, 2014 Election
Three important matters have been discussed by BNC since our last eNEWS. These are:
- On August 2, 2014 at a General Meeting of BNC (to which all consulting neighborhoods were invited), several November ballot measures were discussed. Those in attendance voted to make two endorsements in the November 4, 2014 election:
- On August 26, an e-mail message was received from a resident who does not agree with BNCs endorsements on Measures R and S. The complaint was that “BNC Makes these endorsements on behalf of the neighborhood groups that appear on BNC’s website, yet I am a member of CENA and I was not asked for my opinion on these two measures.” The message’s author believes that people in neighborhood groups “don’t realize that BNC is speaking for them and for their neighborhood group.” “It isn’t fair and it isn’t democratic.”
- On August 30, attendees at the next duly noticed General Meeting again discussed the endorsement issue and the opinion raised in #2 above. There was no change in BNCs endorsement decision, but it was agreed that BNC should make it clear that this was the decision of those who attended the General Meetings — that BNC does not speak for our consulting neighborhood groups, that it would be impossible for everyone in any neighborhood to agree on everything and that BNC provides a forum in which people can participate in civil conversation about neighborhood issues with the goal that this conversation will lead to resolution of problems and a stronger neighborhood voice in City decisions. It was unanimously agreed that the structure of how BNC arrives at action decisions will be discussed further at our next General Meeting.
In summary, the following reflects the results of our discussions:
- Berkeley Neighborhoods Council will NOT support or oppose candidates for election.
- Berkeley Neighborhoods Council will with a 2/3s (67%) of those present at a duly noticed General Meeting take a position on ballot measures that have a direct impact on neighborhoods within Berkeley. Berkeley Neighborhoods Council will take such actions sparingly.
- In making a ballot measure to support/oppose, Berkeley Neighborhoods Council will
- Issue a written statement as to the reasons for taking such a position, and
- Include in the written statement that the action to support/oppose does NOT mean that this action reflects the opinions of our consulting neighborhood organizations, but it does reflect the opinions of at least 67% of those present at a General Meeting to which all consulting neighborhood organizations were invited.
- That any election activities by our consulting neighborhood organizations or eNEWS subscribers, whether in accordance with or opposed to BNC’s action, is entirely up to each neighborhood group or individual.
- Berkeley Neighborhoods Council will begin the process of surveying all our consulting neighborhoods regarding:
- the listing of their names on our website, eNEWS, correspondence, etc.
- our support/oppose policy and procedures, and
- their issues and concerns
The following are statements issued by BNC in support to their decision to support Measure R, the Green Downtown and Public Commons Initiative and to oppose Measure S, the City Council’s Redistricting Measure. Each Statement contains the notation that BNC does not speak for our consulting neighborhood associations. They are printed separately so that any neighborhood organization or individual may reproduce them and distribute them, if they so desire. No permission to reproduce or distribute these statements is necessary.