Randy Shaw, author of

“Generation Priced Out”

Who Will Get to Live In The New Urban America

Join Us

April 18th, 7:30p – 9:00p  

 Northbrae Community Church

 941 The Alameda, Berkeley, Ca. 94707

 Generation Priced Out is a call to action on one of the most talked-about issues of our time: how skyrocketing rents and home values are pricing the working and middle classes out of urban America. Randy Shaw tells the powerful stories of tenants, politicians, homeowner groups, developers, and activists in over a dozen cities impacted by the national housing crisis. From San Francisco to New York, Seattle to Denver, and Los Angeles to Austin, GenerationPriced Out challenges progressive cities to reverse rising economic and racial inequality.

2019 Platform

As the oldest and largest Democratic Club in Alameda County, the Berkeley Democratic Club stands for these principles:

• Government is a force for good, providing a safety net for the most vulnerable and under-served in our society and bringing balance and fairness to the market economy.
• Access to health care, a decent standard of living, a clean and safe environment and access to quality education from early childhood to college are fundamental.
• Diversity and inclusion in the political process lead to better outcomes.
• Public policy should be crafted based on sound research and best practices, with social and economic justice as our guide.
• Government should be ethically and fiscally responsible.

These priorities ought to be fought for at every level — local, state, federal and global. We believe the Democratic Party offers the best vehicle to advance our principles, and the Berkeley Democratic Club also support the principles behind the adopted platforms of the state and national Democratic Party.

Social and Economic Justice

• Raise the local minimum wage to $15 at or sooner than the state of California’s implementation timeline of 2022, with input from low-wage workers, small business owners, nonprofit leaders and other stakeholders
• Attract living-wage green and clean energy job opportunities for Berkeley residents, especially those without a college degree
• Actively consider the equity implications of policy decisions, including allocation of public safety, social services and economic development resources in historically under-served areas
• Encourage broad participation in Berkeley’s commissions from people of all racial, social-economic, religious and political backgrounds

Environmental Stewardship

• Hold the City Council and staff accountable for meeting the Measure G (2006) mandate to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050
• Preserve parks and open space, actively consider environmental justice in land use decisions, encourage urban gardens and expand recreational space and opportunities for active lifestyles

Budget and Taxes

• Maintain current taxation rates and service levels to ensure needs are met at a cost taxpayers can bear
• Practice shared accountability that includes increased individual contributions to pensions from newly-hired city employees, starting with non-public safety employees
• Advocate for statewide reform of Proposition 13 to ensure commercial property owners pay their fair share

Political Reform

• Defend the current contribution limit and rules for financing campaigns, while declining to endorse the use of general fund money for public financing
• Explore some form of term limits, potentially limiting council members to three four-year terms or two four-year terms with the possibility of returning to office later
• Establish a redistricting commission that takes the power to redraw council districts out of the hands of current incumbents

Our Mission