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Narrowing of Albany’s Marin Avenue worries Berkeley leaders
“Berkeley should be consulted about possible impacts,” she said.
The Berkeley City Council approved Dean’s resolution by a 7-1 vote with Councilmember Kriss Worthington voting no and Vice Mayor Maudelle Shirek absent.
Worthington said he voted against the resolution because it might put Berkeley on hostile footing with Albany.
“The mayor is criticizing Albany without really knowing the details of the plan,” he said. “I have no problem with getting information but her approach is antagonistic and puts unnecessary pressure on them.”
Councilmember Linda Maio supports Albany’s plans despite having concerns about increased traffic volume on Berkeley streets in her district. She said pedestrian safety in every city is paramount.
“I think Albany is doing the right thing,” she said. “Traffic on Marin is too fast. Its width and multiple lanes make it like a little highway, which make people speed and people can’t continue to drive like cowboys to get where they have to go.”
Maio added that part of the traffic problem is a result of insufficient housing in Berkeley.
“Jobs in Berkeley have outpaced housing so we are victim to commute traffic,” she said. “We have commuters on Gilman, Cedar, Rose and Hopkins streets, which feed up to where the jobs are.”
