Berkeley City Council District 4 is a unique mix of students, families, seniors, renters, homeowners, businesses, and quiet residential neighborhoods. Our district needs a representative who has the experience and passion to quickly put innovative solutions into action, a willingness to listen to the diverse voices and perspectives of our community, and the progressive values to fight for those most in need. Soli Alpert is the best person to represent us on City Council.
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Mr. Soli is a proven and dedicated public servant with leadership experience. A former council aide and now vice chair of the Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board, Mr. Soli has already played a major role in enacting progressive legislation at City Hall. He helped draft the Vacant Homes Tax, approved overwhelmingly by voters, to tax long-term residential vacancies by large landlords and generate funds for affordable housing. He was integral in the development and implementation of the Fair Workweek Ordinance, which created groundbreaking protections for the city’s low-income workers. He helped draft legislation to ensure developers pay their fair share to fund affordable housing, and is working to amend the demolition ordinance to protect tenants from eviction while allowing new construction. In the best sense, Mr. Soli is a legislative nerd who can hit the ground running at City Hall. He has a deep understanding of how Berkeley’s institutions work, and he also has the skills to make things happen in a city government riddled with red tape.
“We trust Sori will work in good faith with all of us – workers, business owners, retirees and students – to find solutions that create a clean, livable and equitable future for all. We are especially impressed with how young Sori has always engaged and responded to the needs of seniors and retirees in our community. Additionally, he is a renter and has developed a deep understanding of the needs and challenges faced by homeowners, especially those on fixed incomes, while being a staunch supporter of renters’ rights.
Even we, who are his staunchest supporters, have sometimes disagreed about the best approach to issues facing our city. What makes Soli special is that through all of those instances, he has meaningfully and deeply engaged with us to find common ground and solutions that work for our entire community. In politics, it’s impossible to please everyone. Instead of telling people what he thinks they want to hear, Soli has repeatedly confronted differences and built shared understanding.
His values are workers’ and tenants’ rights, racial and economic equality, global human rights, a commitment to open and transparent government, and he is focused on the impact and outcome of City Council decisions and laws on Berkeley residents. He will not change his message to appeal to the widest audience possible. He is rooted in representing his constituents, whether the issue is local, regional or global. There is a reason why Mr. Soli is the only candidate to be targeted by attack ads funded by out-of-city dark money groups. Mr. Soli is the only candidate with the experience and track record of standing up and fighting for low-income and working-class residents. He will represent all of the residents of the 4th District, especially the communities whose voices are not always heard. That is why over 60 4th District residents have publicly supported his campaign.
You can join us in putting Soli in our #1 position on your ballot by May 28. To learn more about Soli, his policies, and how to vote, visit Soli.vote.
Karma Smart is a member of the Community Health Committee, Erin Deem is a member of the Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Committee, and Jack Kurzweil is a longtime activist. All three live in the 4th District.
