Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How much more will Berkeley BART riders pay starting Jan. 1?

And check out 2025 XmasPalooza on the Berkeley Patch calendar

Patch AM Team's profile picture
Patch AM Team, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
Saturday December 20th Patch AM
Saturday December 20th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Coffee in hand, Berkeley? We've got the latest town updates for you. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • How much more will Berkeley BART riders pay starting Jan. 1?
  • How Berkeley’s new rent fees could squeeze affordable housing nonprofits
  • Which Berkeley professor just won a major prize and new role?

Also on today's calendar: 2025 XmasPalooza and 9 more events.

Find out what's happening in Berkeleyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: Last night I had a dream. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Berkeleyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Saturday: Occasional rain and drizzle, with a high of 58 and low of 53 degrees.
  • Sunday: Periods of rain, temps: high: 59, low: 53.
  • Monday: Rain; breezy in the morning, with a high of 58 and low of 50 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. BART is raising fares starting Jan. 1 (berkeleyside.org) — If you ride BART from Berkeley, expect higher fares and parking costs starting Jan. 1, including increases for trips from downtown and North Berkeley and at Ashby and North Berkeley lots. The 6.2% hike is meant to ease BART’s looming budget crisis, but won’t prevent potential service cuts without new long-term funding.
   

2. Affordable housing groups face big fee hike from Berkeley ballot measure (berkeleyside.org) — Berkeley’s Rent Stabilization Board has imposed full registration fees on nonprofit affordable housing providers under Measure BB, leaving some groups facing six-figure annual increases and scrambling for funds. While the board extended the payment deadline to March 31, city leaders warn the change could strain already tight budgets and complicate efforts to preserve and expand affordable housing in Berkeley.
   

3. Celebrating Jonathan Weigel's Tenure as CRB Faculty Director (berkeley.edu) — UC Berkeley’s Haas School is marking the end of Professor Jonathan Weigel’s term as faculty director of its Center for Responsible Business, highlighting his Philomathia Prize and innovative tax research in the Congo. Berkeley readers may be interested that Haas will soon transition the role to Professor Jim Sallee, with more details promised in the new year.
   

4. Cal manhandles Morgan State for 8th straight victory (macon.com) — Cal men’s basketball rolled to its eighth straight win with a 97–50 rout of Morgan State in Berkeley, highlighted by 28 points from Chris Bell and a breakout game from freshman Semetri Carr. The Golden Bears dominated from the opening minutes, shot nearly 60 percent from the field, and showcased multiple standout performances that should energize local fans.
   

5. Space objects collide in a star system, rare event's images captured (interestingengineering.com) — A UC Berkeley astronomy professor helped capture the first direct images of massive objects colliding around the nearby star Fomalhaut, revealing dramatic dust clouds from planetesimal impacts. While the discovery is cosmic in scale, it showcases cutting-edge research happening right here at Berkeley that reshapes how scientists understand young solar systems like our own once looked.
   

📸 Around Berkeley

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Berkeley

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 Berkeley Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Berkeley PatchAM possible:

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Anyone know where I can get a snow globe for my son for Xmas?
    It's all he asked for and I can't find one..... (Nextdoor South Berkeley)
  • Does this cat family belong to any human family?
    Extremely friendly and just hanging out looking for pets near Cragmont and Keith. Mom, dad and 3 kittens. Worried about all the rain coming up and… (Nextdoor N.BerkHills/Tilden)
  • Government Jobs posted a job opening for Recreation Activity Leader (Non-Career) in Berkeley. Apply here.
  • Compass Group, PLC posted a job opening for Warehouse Runner in Berkeley. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Berkeley here.

Ok Berkeley! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I dreamed I was swimming in a pool of orange soda, but it was just a Fanta-sea.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Berkeley