(Zoom event)
The ongoing battle to prevent the development by UC of People’s Park in Berkeley continues. The park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and an important Court of Appeal victory was won. However, UC appealed the court decision to the State Supreme Court and simultaneously subverted the court victory by getting the legislature to pass a bill to undermine it. Construction is halted until the court issues its decision. Organizing strategies are still being pursued to protect the park from destruction by a huge student housing project and the paving over with hardscape, despite the need for open space in the densest part of Berkeley. This Zoom panel will also talk about how privatization is pushing the monetization of the public assets of the University and how this process has become a national trend.
Speakers:
Harvey Smith – People’s Park Historic District Advocacy Group
Charles Wollenberg – former Chair of Social Sciences and Professor of History, Berkeley City College
Joe Liesner – Food Not Bombs