BERKELEY — Three candidates running for Berkeley mayor on largely similar progressive platforms took the stage at The Way Christian Center this week to outline why their route is the best for the city’s future.
Current Councilmember Sophie Hahn, former Councilmember Kate Harrison and education and nonprofit consultant Adena Ishii made up Wednesday’s candidate panel sponsored by the Berkeley People’s Alliance, Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club, Our Revolution East Bay, Berkeley Community Action and the Green Party.
“This race is not about who is the more progressive candidate,” Hahn said in her opening remarks. “It’s about which progressive candidate has been showing up for Berkeley.”
Hahn, who was first elected to the council in 2016, said her mayoral campaign is about ensuring she gets to continue her “unmatched” service to Berkeley.
Harrison had also served on the council for years, initially elected in 2017, before resigning earlier this year, citing building frustrations with how the city does its business. A vote for her is a vote for transparency, she said.
As for Ishii, who formerly served as president of the League of Women Voters of Berkeley, Albany and Emeryville, her bid for mayor is about bringing “fresh perspective” to the various issues the city faces and renewed focus on reviewing, implementing or redoing city plans that have already been paid for and adopted.
“I’m running for mayor because it’s time for a reset at City Hall. Berkeley needs a leader to unite people around common sense solutions. We need to be able to compromise as a city. We need to focus on fighting our problems, not fighting each other,” Ishii said in her opening.
Armed with prepared statements, having received questions ahead of time, the three candidates detailed their approach to addressing housing development and homelessness, public safety and police oversight, climate change and public green space, revitalizing pockets of the city, caring for an aging population and speaking on foreign policy issues.
They largely agreed on key issues, though rebuttals were not possible under the forum’s format.
More housing is needed, especially the affordable kind, they said. Ishii advocated for new development across all neighborhoods. And both Harrison and Hahn touted their records around housing; Harrison’s working on the Measure M vacancy tax and Hahn’s working on affordable housing measures O and P.
Their comments came about a week before the City Council is slated to weigh whether multi-family homes should be allowed within single-family zoning areas to encourage the development of missing-middle housing.
The city’s Specialized Care Unit — a three-person team including a clinician, peer specialist and emergency medical technician — needs to be expanded to provide care 24/7. The Police Accountability Board, a body of nine civilian providing oversight of the Berkeley Police Department, needs more power to conduct investigations.
More work is needed to meet the city’s climate goals, despite what progress has been made. The city’s waterfront is a valuable asset needing protecting. Improving the lives of Berkeley’s residents of color needs to be a focus when making policy. RV dwellers need a safe place to park. And improving transportation, housing supply and medical access is vital for supporting the city’s aging population.
“Berkeley needs a mayor that looks at the root causes and not just the symptoms of the problems. Berkeley needs a mayor who has the kind of experience I do,” Harrison said. “Things like what we’ve talked about only stop when you have a strong manager.”
The candidates did deviate from each other when asked whether the council should speak out on foreign policy issues, specifically the war between Israel and Hamas. All called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire but Hahn said the council should not back a joint statement, given how divisive the issue is within the community.
Ishii, alternatively, noted the city has historically spoken out on foreign conflicts whether that was to disavow apartheid in South Africa decades ago or Russia’s invasion of Ukraine more recently. The council passing a ceasefire resolution demanding legislators act would be a legitimate action, she said, especially given how divisive the issue is.
Harrison, who was previously against the council passing a resolution, said she’s now come to support the idea, asserting “it’s past time to act.” She took issue with advocates of a ceasefire resolution being labeled dangerous and said a conversation on a resolution should at least be held, noting other neighboring jurisdictions adopt similar measures.