Berkeley "Sit-Lie" Measure Funded by Real Estate and Developer Interests

Berkeley's "sit-lie" Measure S is funded almost entirely by real estate and developer interests, campaign finance records filed with the city show.

Measure S would make it illegal to sit on a sidewalk in city commercial zones between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.

The Measure S campaign has received no donations from Telegraph Avenue businesses, despite the campaign’s stated emphasis on improving that corridor for merchants. Just two businesses in areas affected by Measure S have donated small amounts to the campaign—while 99 percent of its funds come from real estate and developer interests.

Among the top donors to Measure S, according to campaign filings:

$10,000 from Panoramic Interests, LLC, a major infill developer and landlord. "From 2004 - 2007, Panoramic was the largest private landlord of UC Berkeley students," the company's website states.
$10,000 from First Shattuck, LLC, a commercial real estate company.
$5000 from Constitution Square, a real estate management firm based in San Rafael.
$3500 from Townsend II, LLC, a capital management company in San Francisco.
$2500 from Diablo Holdings, Ltd., a property and asset management company.

Proponents have promoted Measure S as a "soft" approach to help small businesses and homeless people—yet the campaign is funded almost entirely by real estate and big-business interests.

"As the saying goes, follow the money," said No on S Campaign Chair Osha Neumann. "Measure S has nothing to do with helping neighborhood businesses, but everything to do with the interests of their landlords. The record shows this sit-lie approach won't help our city merchants, and won't do anything for homeless people or public safety."

To verify current campaign filings, visit: http://nf4.netfile.com/pub2/AllFilingsByMeasure.aspx?id=133171328&measure=Civil+Sidewalks.

The No on S campaign is a coalition of city merchants, faith leaders, social service groups, the ACLU of Northern California, the National Lawyers Guild Bay Area chapter, city leaders and residents. Four city Democratic clubs have endorsed No on S, including the ASUC Cal Democrats.

Visit http://www.noonsberkeley.com for more information.