Gavin Newsom

Newsom’s revised proposal now accounts for a projected $31.5 billion “shortfall,” or deficit, an increase from the governor’s January budget which estimated approximately $22.5 billion in deficit, according to the May revision.

During the May budget revision, Newsom announced that this deficit has grown to almost $32 billion. With the governor hesitant to cut services and unable to increase spending, public transit has suffered.

The UC Board of Regents met Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss AI investments, immigration status and work-study jobs, ableism training for faculty and staff and budget reports. The board also voted to unanimously approve UC Berkeley’s new College of Computing, Data Science and Society, or CDSS.

On Wednesday the California Supreme Court decided to hear UC Berkeley’s appeal of their case for development of People’s Park.

Yesterday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Claudette Biemeret as BART’s next inspector general, according to a press release from Newsom’s office. 

UC President Michael Drake approved a 4.6% salary increase as part of the 2023-24 systemwide salary program.

The Berkeley Zoning Adjustment Board, or ZAB, approved use permits Thursday to replace the existing clubhouse and restroom at Willard Park with a new 3,301 square foot community center and bathroom.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA's, approval for the commonly used abortion medication mifepristone was challenged by a federal judge in Texas. 

Although activists and wealthy homeowners have been able to pull attention away from the park and instead toward the lawsuit and CEQA, there is still no productive solution brought to the table.

During their Tuesday meeting, Berkeley City Council began by adjourning their meeting in honor of Patricia DeVito, Beatrice Barrigher and David Lance Goines. All had been long-standing and influential members of the community who had passed away within the last six months.