Editorials

Vice mayor Maudelle Shirek is having a 90th birthday celebration and 90 people will be taking a minute to share how the councilmember has impacted their lives.  

The party is from 2-4 p.m, Saturday at the North Berkeley Senior Center, 1900 Hearst Ave. 

This extraordinary woman, whose grandparents were slaves in Arkansas, has touched many lives in Berkeley, according to her friend and aide Mike Berkowitz. She has helped people get their first cars, homes and loans when she worked for the Credit Union. Shirek fought for and won funding for the school lunch program at Berkeley High School and is still fighting for the city Youth Center in south Berkeley. She helped get the grant for improving the Adeline Corridor street frontage.  

At a time when the city was resistant to hiring people of color, she helped union members and city workers get employment, raises and job protection, Berkowitz said in a press statement. While Shirek is reportedly the oldest city councilmember in California, she still shops and cooks for the seniors at the New Light Senior Center on a daily basis.  

Special guests expected at the birthday bash include Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, Assemblymember Dion Louise Aroner, Supervisor Keith Carson, plus a host of former and current mayors, councilmembers and other officials.  

Food, drink and entertainment for all ages. $25 sliding scale. 

RSVP 549-1861. People should call this number to sign up to talk for a minute about their experiences with Shirek.