Michael Wallman for Berkeley City Council, District 8

The discourse surrounding local housing has devolved into a bitter shouting match, characterized by name-calling and deep neighborhood resentment. Much like the gridlock in Washington D.C., there is little room for nuanced debate; instead, we are presented with an all-or-nothing approach to a complex crisis.

As a lifelong Berkeley resident, I have witnessed the impacts of gentrification firsthand. My kindergarten class photograph serves as a reminder of a city that was once a vibrant tapestry of diverse journeys—a place that was certainly tough, yet undeniably beautiful and full of character.

Today, we are grappling with hyper-gentrification, where the dream of homeownership has slipped out of reach even for middle-class families in our community.

While I do not claim to have every answer or a total grasp of every complex zoning regulation, the data I have examined is deeply concerning:

• Berkeley continues to fall short of its targets for both low-income and middle-income housing.
• A significant majority of new units are rentals, eroding the traditional role of property as a tool for local wealth generation.
• Development is heavily skewed toward one-bedroom and studio apartments rather than family-sized homes.
• Parking mandates have been removed, and essential spaces are frequently excluded to cut development costs.

The convergence of these factors makes Berkeley increasingly uninhabitable for many. Families are being squeezed out, as are tradespeople requiring vehicles for work, those commuting beyond the BART network, and anyone seeking to build long-term equity.

My perspective is straightforward: unless the city makes direct investments in truly affordable housing, partners effectively with developers, and helps homeowners scale their own properties, Berkeley will be defined by massive, dormitory-style blocks that fail our community.

Housing at Scale

One initiative I care deeply about is fundamentally transforming our city's permitting process for homeowners. Personal experience demonstrates that constructing residential improvements remains exceptionally challenging, regardless of existing zoning laws. By removing administrative hurdles for resident-driven projects, we can unlock housing expansion at true community scale across our roughly 20,000 single-family parcels. This process of economies at scale enables a more distributed approach to development, rather than putting all our eggs in one basket — a strategy that has ended very badly in the downtown district. Empowering local homeowners also directly benefits our neighborhood economy, as area contractors are uniquely qualified to raise existing structures, finish basements, and construct accessory dwelling units.

Small businesses serve as the cornerstone of a thriving local community, going far beyond their role as economic drivers. Operating on thin profit margins makes these local shops uniquely vulnerable to operational conditions—including parking access, foot traffic, neighborhood cleanliness, and natural light.

The shortcomings of our current policy approach are glaringly evident. A stroll through Downtown Berkeley along Center Street reveals a heartbreaking wave of storefront vacancies. This problem spreads far beyond downtown: both historic structures and modern commercial spaces along University and San Pablo Avenues reflect the exact same concerning decline.

Although vibrant commercial pockets persist in areas like Elmwood, 4th Street, Hopkins, and the Alcatraz-Adeline intersection, these critical business clusters face ongoing threats.

We must safeguard these essential neighborhood hubs from the broad and targeted upzoning measures typical of major transit corridors. Sustainable growth in these sensitive zones demands closer collaboration with commercial stakeholders, prioritizing owner-occupied units and requiring construction methods that minimize disruption to pedestrian flow.

By enacting these targeted safeguards, Berkeley can foster commercial districts that are both economically resilient and deeply inclusive.

To fill lingering commercial vacancies, we need streamlined programs for faster, lower-cost small business onboarding, such as flexible pop-ups and short-term leases without major upfront or long-term commitments. Sharing foot and vehicle traffic data will also help business owners choose optimal locations to serve the community.

Due to its close proximity to Cal, District 8 is particularly impacted by the university's decisions. Cal is the 800-pound gorilla in the room—a complex maze of bureaucracy and regulations, much like the city itself. For many residents, it remains a love-hate relationship.

• Our housing crisis in Berkeley was driven in part by increasing student admissions without a corresponding, joint housing plan created alongside the city.
• The university continues to push development deep into Strawberry Canyon, constructing stadiums illuminated for modern broadcast athletics.
• Financing the stadium project has created a severe debt burden.
• All of this development sits directly atop the Hayward Fault and right next to Panoramic Hill, one of the most high-risk wildfire neighborhoods in the state.

Ultimately, we need a representative who works closely with the University while steadfastly defending the best interests of Berkeley and, above all, District 8 residents.