My first priority as your elected representative to the Berkeley City Council is to do as much as possible to protect you and your family and property from the damage of a natural disaster and from the results of crime.  We live in a vulnerable area.  Situated on the Hayward Fault, we are subject to earthquakes.  The Berkeley Hills are also particularly vulnerable to wildfire - in fact we are overdue. In addition, we are sandwiched in between the troubled cities of Richmond and Oakland making us a target for all sorts of crime. 

    Last week a close friend attended a First Aid class as part of a neighborhood effort to prepare for an earthquake.  She texted me, "What number do we call in the event of a community emergency to get information?"  This question made me realize that people think that in the event of a major disaster, like an earthquake, they will be able to pick up their phones, and have someone answer their questions and give them information.  The truth is that you need to be prepared to find out what is happening without using your phone.  Landlines may be down, and mobile phone circuits may be overloaded.  That is why it is so important that you have a battery operated radio!  In an emergency, you should tune your radio to a news station or to 1610 AM for local public safety information.  You can also sign up for the Berkeley Emergency Notification System (BENS).  See below. 

    In this newsletter, there is information about how you can improve your safety.  The City of Berkeley offers many programs to inform and educate residents.  However, the responsibility to utilize the information rests with you.  Please take a minute to read about some of the easy and simple steps you can take to protect yourself, your family and your neighbors.  

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    One of the most common crimes in the Berkeley Hills is stolen vehicles.  Last year  650 vehicles were stolen city-wide.  The challenge is: How can I best prevent my vehicle from being stolen?

   The best way to prevent your car from being stolen is to park it in your garage and close and lock the garage door.

   The second best proven deterrent is a steering wheel locking device.  A steering wheel locking device is an inexpensive crime prevention tool and IT WORKS.  Auto thieves, like other individuals who commit crimes, are opportunistic and prefer to go unseen/undetected.  If they see a line of cars, they bypass the ones with the steering wheel locks and capitalize on the easy ones to steal.

    Berkeley Police are very good at locating stolen vehicles and recover more than 80%.   Each vehicle license plate, VIN (Vehicle Identification Number), make, model year and registered owner information is entered into what is called SVS - Stolen Vehicle System and NCIC - National Crime Information Center.  This is a searchable database.  

    Please avoid the inconvenience and disappointment of having your vehicle stolen. Park your vehicle in your garage or buy a steering wheel locking device.

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What is BENS?

    The Berkeley Emergency Notification System (BENS) allows the City to call residents to give them critical public safety information.  This service is also known as an "outdialer" or a "reverse 911" system and is used for emergency notifications.

    Calls from BENS are pre-recorded and the speaker will be very clear that it is an emergency call from the City of Berkeley.  If the call is a test of the system, the message will be clear.

    One of the essential features of this system is that it allows the City to choose a targeted geographical area to deliver the message.

Is this the same as the University of California Berkeley's WarnMe system?

    No.  While UC and the City of Berkeley often cooperate on public safety issues, BENS and the WarnMe system are separate.  If you have already signed up for WarnMe, you must still sign up separately for BENS. 

What does this cost?

    The City doesn't charge for the service, so it won't cost you any more than any other phone call or text message would.

I only have a cell phone: What should I do?

    You can sign up to receive BENS messages on your cell phone or any other alternate number by clicking here.  You can sign up a cell or pager number to receive an SMS, or text, message.  These messages are limited to 160 characters, and you may be charged for receiving them.  If you provide your email address as well, you will also receive the same message as an email.

    You will be asked for your physical address and your cell phone will be connected to that address.  We need your address because calls are often made to specific geographic areas such as streets, blocks or neighborhoods.  Visit the registration page again to update your address or phone numbers.

Can anyone else get my landline or cell phone number from the BENS system?

    The information you submit to the BENS system is kept confidential and would only be disclosed if required by a court of law.

How often will BENS be activated?

    BENS is an emergency system and is used infrequently.  The City has had this service since 2004.  The system is tested annually for emergency exercises.  The Berkeley Police Department most recently activated BENS for assistance in locating a lost child.

Will BENS work in an earthquake?

    Although the calls are recorded and activated by City of Berkeley staff, the company and the technology are located outside of California, to reduce the chance that the service will be disrupted in a natural disaster.  Since it is difficult to predict what infrastructure damage will result from an earthquake, BENS will work as long as the local telephone company exchanges are functional.  In an emergency, you should still tune your radio to a news station or 1610 AM for regional public safety information.

Sign up for BENS here! 

    If you have any concerns or questions about the Berkeley Emergency Notification System, please call the Office of Emergency Services at 981-5605 or email [email protected].

Do you Know What to Do When an Earthquake Hits? 

    The Berkeley CERT Citywide Exercise on Saturday, April 27, provides participants an opportunity to practice disaster response in their own homes and neighborhoods.  All individuals or community groups are encouraged to participate regardless of their level of CERT training or previous participation in City disaster preparedness activities.

    Registration is open NOW and is available to everyone.  You can register here.

    Questions?  Email the Office of Emergency Services.

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     The satisfactions of my job are few and far between. But every once in a while I get to accomplish a tiny step towards making Berkeley a better place. In the past few weeks I was able to get the following accomplished:

• Return most neighborhood mailboxes to their original locations
• Repair the lights on Tamalpais Path after many years of being broken.
• Trim the shrubs at the intersection of Cragmont and Marin to improve sight lines.
• Fix the broken cement on the path at Rose Walk
• Replace the street signs on Summit and Grizzly 
• Fill a few of the potholes on Wildcat Canyon Road

    If you have a small item that you would like to see repaired or replaced, please email or call my office at 981-7160.  I won't make any promises, but I will do my best to get it done!     

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