[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 5 (Tuesday, February 3, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E74]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     RECOGNIZE AND LAUD PROGRESSIVE ALTERNATIVE BUDGET FOR BERKELEY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. RONALD V. DELLUMS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 3, 1998

  Mr. DELLUMS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to, and to 
praise the passage of the Progressive Alternative Budget 1997-1998 for 
the City of Berkeley. This landmark budget was passed by the City 
Council on June 24, 1997.
  This budget, initiated by the Honorable Vice-Mayor, Maudelle Shirek, 
established the seemingly impossible goal of forging a budget which 
would meet the needs of two apparently divergent, distinct communities 
within Berkeley. Although Berkeley's population of approximately 
112,000 places it in the category of a small city, it has two polar 
economic groups with attendant issues, a common characteristic of large 
urban areas. To quote Vice-Mayor Shirek: ``The City of Berkeley is 
divided into two distinct societies; one consisting of those well above 
the safety net; the other made up of those just above, within or below 
that same safety net.''
  The Vice-Mayor's 1997-98 budget achieved the target of meeting the 
basic needs of the entire city by maintaining the excellent police and 
fire services, as well as meeting the special requirements of the 
citizens with the lowest income and the greatest needs. The Vice-Mayor, 
working with four other Councilmembers, Margaret Breland, Linda Maio, 
Dona Spring and Kriss Worthington, set three priorities in allocating 
the $200 million discretionary funds available; increased employment 
opportunities for the poor and homeless, access to health care for at-
risk individuals, and more affordable housing.
  Within these three priorities, the Vice-Mayor proposed that the 
budget be appropriated in the following manner; city parks and 
waterfront, clean, safe streets, and the library (39.92%); public 
safety (22.84%); a healthy city and the disabled community (7.17%), the 
needy and soon-to-be-needy (5.35%); economic development (4.22%); 
children and seniors (3.19%); South and West Berkeley, two 
traditionally underserved sections of the city (0.32%); and arts and 
culture (0.29%).
  In presenting this premier budget, Vice-Mayor Shirek expressed her 
appreciation for City Manager James Keene and his staff for the data 
that formed the basis of her budget, and was especially proud to note 
that this budget included the traditional annual 4% surplus as well as 
an AA rating enjoyed by only 17 other cities in California.
  It is appropriate at this time for me to thank all those involved in 
this undertaking for their energy and hard work. I am proud that the 
Berkeley community has united to focus its attention on issues which 
are critical to the health, safety, and well-being of its citizens.

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