Activists Claim Move Was Long Overdue
As part of the ongoing effort to make amends for systemic injustice, the Berkeley City Council has voted to rename Prince and King streets. The move came about as part of a two step process where Council had to first vote to remove the names then consider motions for alternatives in a separate item. Step one, was pretty much a slam dunk noted council member Robinson, “after listening to Oprah interview Harry and Meghan, it hit me like a brick how our street names perpetuate a classist and elitist culture. There is simply no place for this in 2021.” The vast majority of individuals providing public comment cited examples of “regal tyrants” that “subjugated the masses.”
Council member Bartlett, whose district would be directly impacted by the move, seem confused by the motion to cancel the street names, as he stated, “Initially, I did not see a problem here as I though the street was named after the late pop legend. Fortunately, my colleagues were able to educate me on the issue.”
Initially, I did not see a problem here as I though the street was named after the late pop legend.
CM Bartlett
Council member Hahn indicated she was proud to be a co-sponsor of the measure then she spent twenty minutes explaining how the move serves to create “policy synergy and alignment” with “Berkeley’s proud progressive history of advancing justice through a nomenclature of inclusivity.” Hahn cited UC Berkeley’s move to rename buildings after geo-coordinates and the city’s real time cancellation policy as examples of efforts that “reflect our rich progressive traditions.”
After the initial vote, the council then set out to develop alternatives. Council member Hahn, dusted off her Thousand Oaks elementary school proposal and suggest renaming to Kamala Harris Way. Mayor Arreguin felt such a move was not appropriate as it “did not fully embrace a restorative justice perspective” on the issue. In this spirit, council settled on Serf Street and Proletariat Way. Councilmember Harrison appeared ecstatic about the move but seemed unable to unmute her Zoom feed.