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Councilmember Susan Wengraf
Newsletter #40
Autumn, 2014 |
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Dear Friends and Neighbors, With the arrival of October, we can all prepare for two things....high hazard fire days and lots of campaign mail. The drought has exacerbated our fire danger here in the Berkeley Hills and put us all at greater risk. Frankly, we are at the mercy of nature and everyone's good judgment. One small act of carelessness or negligence can cause great harm to all of us. Please take steps to trim your vegetation away from your home, clear your gutters of debris, and be sure to report any sign of smoke by calling 911 immediately. If you are calling from a cell phone, please call 981-5911.
The 2014 election is just weeks away and vote by mail ballots will be arriving shortly. Please take the time to learn about the various measures on the ballot before you vote. Since this newsletter is sent as a public service to the Berkeley community regarding events of interest, it does not contain any discussion of election issues, endorsements, etc. If you would like my views on any particular campaign issue, please send me an email, including your contact info to: [email protected].
Best Regards, .jpg)
Susan Wengraf 
Included in this newsletter is information about: |
PRESCRIPTION DRUG DISPOSAL
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CLEAN OUT YOUR MEDICINE CABINET
AND DISPOSE OF MEDICATIONS SAFELY
 On Saturday, September 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Berkeley Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will provide an opportunity for you to safely dispose of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Bring your pills for disposal to the South Berkeley Senior Center at 2939 Ellis Street in Berkeley.
(The DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches.) The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
 Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to misuse and abuse. Rates for the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs are very high. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, the usual methods for disposing of unused medicines - flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash - pose potential safety, health and environmental hazards.
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GARDEN PARTY HIDDEN GEMS WALK
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CRIME IS DOWN!
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I hope you can take some time to read the most recent newsletter from the Berkeley Police Department. Part 1 crimes (rapes, robberies, aggravated assault, burglaries, larcenies, arson) are down by 12%. Please click here to see specific data on crime in Berkeley.
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POLICE DEPARTMENT COMMUNITY OUTREACH
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Mark Your Calendars!
Police Department Community Outreach Meetings with Area 1 Commanders
A wonderful opportunity to talk with your beat cops.
Great Stone Face Park
| October 8th
| 5-6pm
| Glendale LaLoma Park
| October 15th
| 5-6pm
| Shasta Fire Station
| October 22nd
| 5-6pm
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TRASH DUMPING
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Do you ever see mattresses and couches out on the street?
Illegal dumping is a violation. It impacts neighborhood quality of life, the storm water that drains to the Bay, and attracts rodents. To keep our community clean, I encourage people to report illegally dumped materials, and dumping in progress
To report locations of illegal dumping, click here, or call 311 (981-CITY outside Berkeley limits). To report dumping in progress, please call the Berkeley Police at 981-5900.
I appreciate your help in keeping our neighborhoods clean.
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NEW LED STREET LIGHTS
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Why is the city converting to LED lights?
 You have probably noticed by now that the lights on your street are different.
The light is brighter and whiter. I have received many calls and emails from constituents regarding this change: Some people love them and others hate them. Here's a little background on why the city is making the change:
The City of Berkeley is replacing conventional street lights with more efficient lighting technologies to reduce energy and greenhouse gas emissions. Light-emitting diode (LED) lighting provides a whiter, brighter light quality which enhances night visibility while lowering energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and maintenance costs. LEDs emit directional light which provides more control over what is lit (streets and sidewalks) versus what should remain dark (the night sky). This makes it easier to comply with the Dark Skies Initiative, which aims to reduce light pollution and its associated impacts.
Streetlights make up 32% of the City's municipal electricity use, and account for 900 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. LED streetlights cut energy and greenhouse gas emissions in half. All 8,000 streetlights, including parks and pathways, are scheduled for replacement with LEDs in 2014.
The project will result in significant energy and cost
 savings for the City. In addition to using less energy, LEDs have a longer lifespan which reduces maintenance costs. The replacement project will also change out some fixtures for consistency and make any future replacements easier. The new fixtures will be mounted on the existing light poles. For more information, see the LED Streetlight Frequently Asked Questions. If you have a light that is shining in your window, chances are that it can be adjusted or a shield can be placed over the fixture. Please contact Reeve Battle by email at [email protected], by phone at 510-981-6336, or call Customer Service at 311. Back to top |
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Susan Wengraf
Berkeley City Council District 6
510-981-7160
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