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Terry's Priorities

As Councilmember, Terry Taplin has been a champion for working and middle class families. 

If re-elected, he will work with coalitions of local and state leaders, labor, climate advocates and Berkeley residents to build a Berkeley that works for all, not just the privileged few.

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Climate-Resilient Future

Public Safety

As a mobility and environmental advocate, Councilmember Taplin understands the urgency facing our planet. During his first term at City Hall, he authored and sponsored legislation to address our climate emergency. 

 

To prepare our community to mitigate the impacts of climate change, Councilmember Taplin will:

  • Establish a workforce development program for the City of Berkeley to promote the green workforce required for the just transition to a fossil-fuel free economy 

  • Advance electric and micro-mobility options to reduce transportation emissions and promote climate equity 

  • Expand urban green space, tree canopy, and age and ability-inclusive playgrounds and facilities in west and south Berkeley 

  • Protect waterfront biodiversity and tideland ecology at Aquatic Park and the Berkeley Marina

  • Invest in the city’s infrastructure to bolster our road network, stormwater system, and waterfront against seismic and climate-fueled flood events

Councilmember Taplin has also advanced a comprehensive approach to public safety, including new security cameras to deter crime in West Berkeley while working with law enforcement on smart and humane strategies to hold accountable bad actors.

 

To promote the health and safety of every neighborhood, Councilmember Taplin will:

  • Establish community policing units dedicated to West Berkeley 

  • Advance community-based gun violence intervention models 

  • Expand participation in neighborhood disaster preparedness trainings

  • Support safe emergency vehicle response and access to evacuation routes

  • Continue supporting policies allowing the use of public security cameras and automated license plate readers to investigate gun and auto crimes with civil liberty and privacy rights protections

Public Transit & Infrastructure

​As an avid transit rider and cyclist, Councilmember Taplin understands that access to clean, safe and efficient public transit is not just a form of transportation but also a vehicle for economic mobility. 

 

He has also worked with Public Works and City Hall to secure funding to expand our safe streets infrastructure and ensure pedestrian safety especially in high-traffic areas prone to pedestrian accidents. 

 

To ensure pedestrian safety and bolster our public infrastructure, Councilmember Taplin will continue to:

  • Increase cooperation between City Hall, law enforcement, AC Transit and BART Board of Directors to protect road users from traffic violence

  • Support safe emergency vehicle response and access to evacuation routes

  • Support public transit, bike and pedestrian safety, and ability-inclusive mobile shift

Housing & Homelessness

As a renter, Councilmember Taplin knows first-hand how elusive homeownership is for many low- and middle-income Berkeley residents. Councilmember Taplin has partnered with local officials, state legislators, builders and labor to make it easier to build more affordable housing for teachers, nurses, firefighters and Berkeleyans of all ages. 

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To address our housing affordability and homelessness crisis, Councilmember Taplin will:

  • Continue to ensure that we build affordable housing throughout our city 

  • Support projects that will provide transitional and permanent supportive housing for our unhoused neighbors

  • Expand services that will address the root causes of homelessness 

Inclusive Economy

Councilmember Taplin has been a firm advocate for working people and their ability to collectively bargain for pay equity and safe working conditions, championing hazard pay for grocery workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

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To build an inclusive economy, Councilmember Taplin will:

  • Advocate for the creation of a West Berkeley arts and culture, and business improvement district

  • Advance  protections for workers in every sector 

  • Expand the city’s tax base and revenue streams

  • Protect West Berkeley’s eclectic ecosystem of arts, nightlife and hospitality, commercial and manufacturing industries and innovation sectors

  • Invest in  beautiful, vibrant, prosperous San Pablo and University Avenues

Accountability & Transparency

Councilmember Taplin believes that accountability and transparency are key to effective governance, and are the cornerstone of any healthy democracy. During his first term, he has proudly worked with local department agencies to ensure Berkeley residents have a front-row seat in City Hall's decision making.

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To ensure government accountability and transparency, Councilmember Taplin will: 

  • Establish guidelines, guardrails, and merits for grants to community agencies 

  • Advance policies for the periodic review of duplicative city programs

  • Expand public participation and community review of the city budget 

  • Protect public assets from fiscal waste and mismanagement 

  • Support the modernization and realignment of internal systems 

To get in touch with Team Terry, email us at terry@taplinforcouncil.com

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