Stefan Lasiewski

The Alameda County Computer Resource Center is an innovative computer recycler in Berkeley, CA. They are an environmentalists dream– all waste is reused when possible, the rest is recycled. No waste is shipped to questionable trash dumps overseas. Locally, the ACCRC provides computers to local schools and nonprofits.

During the Makers Faire in San Mateo, California, the ACCRC brought in tons of computer and electronic parts which were salvaged and reused for various projects.

Sadly, the State of California is threatening to shut down the ACCRC, mostly for failing to maintain an inventory of all of their computer equipment, and for keeping interesting/historical equipment onsite (a Computer Museum), instead of destroying the equipment.

I’ve been using ACCRC (and their predecessors) for years, and I’ve volunteered for several Linux installfest events using their hardware. I sincerely hope that State is able to work with the ACCRC and reach a compromise.

The City of Berkeley is thinking about offering free Wireless internet throughout the City of Berkeley.

Read about it, read comments by other people, add your own comments, and vote on the issue at KitchenDemocracy.org.

Mayor Tom Bates is proposing some strategies to address people who are causing problems in neighborhoods and shopping districts in the City of Berkeley.

Here is the letter from Mayor Tom Bates, inviting Berkeley residents to participate in the discussion online at KitchenDemocracy.org

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From: Berkeley Mayor’s Office
Date: May 17, 2007 7:21 PM
Subject: Special Bates Update: Please Provide Input on Street Behavior Initiative

The Bates Update

** Special Edition **
News From Mayor Tom Bates
May 17, 2007

On Tuesday, May 22nd, the Berkeley City Council will continue its work and discussion on my proposal to create a comprehensive and integrated new initiative to address street behavior problems through enhanced services, new diversion programs, clear rules for behavior in all city commercial districts, and improved enforcement.

At this meeting, the Council will review and discuss a list of specific recommendations that will provide the basis for our strategy. If you would like to read more about this initiative, you can do so on my website at www.cityofberkeley.info/mayor or go directly to the City Council Agenda Packet (Item 32c).

Given the importance of these issues, I have remained committed to getting as much community input as possible through public meetings, Council forums, Commission workshops, and other venues.

We are also using the electronic forum Kitchen Democracy to provide another avenue for feedback and include more members of the community in the discussion of this topic. I encourage you to visit Kitchen Democracy to review the issue, read comments from other people in the community, make your own comments, and cast your vote on the issue.

Of course, you can also come speak at the Council meeting (7 p.m. on Tuesday at Old City Hall – 2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way) or email your comments to me at mayor@ci.berkeley.ca.us.

Update 7/30/2006:  

These maps no longer function, as the City of Berkeley has deactivated their data. When I asked the Berkeley Police Department about this, they said that they were going to offer their own crime maps online in a few months.

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The City of Berkeley used to have some crime maps on their website. They stopped updating the maps in 2003. The maps were input by hand, and it was a labor-intensive process. They Berkeley Police Department abandoned the Crime Maps in favor of the new Berkeley Police Bulletins system– however the documents are incredibly cryptic and require much work to be useful to most people. The Police Department added a layer of complexity by taking a plain text document and stuffing it into a proprietary PDF document.

A fellow Berkeleyan created some new online crime maps. They are updated daily, using the same Berkeley Police Bulletins which are released once per day. The site features email alerts, so you can be notified if a particular street is mentioned in a crime report.

Here is the website:

http://www.incidentlog.com/lookup.pl?Src=56