Yes on EE
Berkeley needs better streets & sidewalks
As Berkeleyans experience every day, over 40% of our streets are officially in poor to failed condition. Over the next five years, the overall condition of our streets is expected to continue to decline, and the $260 million current backlog of deferred maintenance will grow by about 25%. Likewise, our sidewalks and pedestrian paths are crumbling and hazardous.
Measure EE is an opportunity to fix this ongoing problem!
Measure EE is narrowly focused on fixing all our streets, sidewalks, and pedestrian paths over the next 12 years – with no padding for undefined and unplanned infrastructure projects. Measure EE requires the city to maintain its recently increased street maintenance budget—otherwise, the tax goes away!
Hundreds of volunteers worked to get Measure EE on the ballot
Thanks to hundreds of Berkeley volunteers, we collected more than enough signatures to qualify our measure for the ballot! Our efforts continue with help and donations from the many Berkeley residents who want to see our streets and sidewalks fixed.
Compare Measure EE with the competing measure
Measure EE (Fix the Streets & Sidewalks) will be one of two measures on the city of Berkeley November ballot. Whichever ballot measure gets more votes, and over 50% of the total, will prevail. Here’s how they compare.
We believe Measure EE is by far the better option!
The condition of Berkeley’s streets
Some submissions to the City of Berkeley’s ClickFix Issue Reporting System showing complaints.
Testimonials – Why we need Measure EE
This IS the right measure to support -- everyone benefits, equally, and ALL the streets and sidewalks need repair. Berkeley's once well-paved roads and sidewalks have become hazardous and neglected. Being an avid walker and bicyclist, I feel the effects of our current public roadways and sidewalks intimately. We can do much better. Please vote YES on EE -- repair ALL roads and sidewalks!
— Norm Gelbart
I have lived in Berkeley since 2001 and have always been a bicycle commuter and recreational rider. I was delighted to live in a city with an excellent network of bicycle boulevards and proud of the city. Over the course of these years, I have witnessed, and felt in my body, the absolute deterioration of the bicycle boulevards and other streets. They are now at a dangerous level. Twice on my way to work, I have been so jostled on my bike that my computer bag jumped out of a bike basket and my coffee cup flew off my bike into traffic. Other times, I have had to make split-second decisions whether to swerve into potential traffic or risk falling off my bike. Now, I not only need to watch for irresponsible drivers, I need to weave around pot holes, cracks and uneven pavement from the poor condition of the roads. I am no longer proud to be an avid Berkeley bicyclist. Our streets are truly hazardous for cyclists. Vote YES on EE and NO on FF. Measure EE is the only one that prioritizes the condition of the paving on the streets and sidewalks, which benefits everyone, over other projects that are controversial and, at best, benefit only a few.
— Lori Copan
I have studied both ballot measures for fixing the streets and there is only one I can support, "Fix the Streets" - Measure EE. I walk whenever and wherever I can and drive as little as possible. Fix the Streets does two things I care about: 1) Fixing the sidewalks, and 2) Requiring evaluation. I read the agendas for every City of Berkeley public meeting. What is consistently missing is evaluation. That is required in section 7.11.040 in "Fix the Streets." To see my full commentary on streets and bicycle lanes, go to "What has happened with Hopkins and Why" and read it to the end.
— Kelly Hammargren
Join us!
Working together, ordinary folks have the power to make our city government more responsible and more responsive to Berkeley’s basic needs. You can help ensure that Measure EE prevails in November!