Thank you

Letter to the Berkeley City Council

20 July 2004

Dear Mayor Bates and Members of the City Council:

On behalf of BLUE, Berkeleyans for a Livable University Environment, we would like to thank you for the time you gave us to speak in front of City Council on June 1, 2004.

Several months ago, residents from the neighborhoods surrounding the University of California campus met to discuss our common concerns about the impacts the University, which are clearly adding to the deterioration of the quality of life for all in these communities.

It was an unprecedented move for individuals and groups from across the political and geographic spectrum of the City to come together to discuss a common concern. We discovered that our concerns about University detriment extend well beyond the neighborhoods adjacent to the campus park, and indeed impact our entire City. By taking a strong stand against the LRDP, which the City has done admirably, we have given the message to the Regents that the City can no longer subsidize UC, either economically or in the deterioration of our neighborhoods.

The extended time gave us the opportunity to put the resident's concerns into the public record. These are not three-minute, sound-bite issues; these are complex issues that have their roots in the state constitution. They are not going to be solved this year or next, but will require an entirely new approach. BLUE looks forward to working with the City administration in the years ahead to affect this change.

We also extend a special “thank you” to Dona Spring for requesting the extended time, for without it, nothing would have been possible.

Sincerely yours,

Members of Berkeleyans for a Livable University Environment (BLUE)

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