Taking back the city

ACCESS involves students in local politics

By Christopher Page
From the October 2006 Print Edition

One of the new groups on campus is ACCESS (Activists’ Commission for Creating and Engaging Service to Students). While many groups try to make political change on a national or global level, ACCESS is highly focused on the local political scene. ACCESS works for the advancement of student issues directly in Berkeley and raises awareness of local problems.

The members of ACCESS are dedicated to forming a permanent interest group to lobby the city and local interests for students. Their involvement is sorely needed. Many politicians in the city of Berkeley and numerous long-term residents regard students as a constant annoyance.

They see us as a group either apathetic toward city affairs or a constant source of noise and disruption. Even though students make up 20 percent to 25 percent of the population of Berkeley and provide enormous amounts of revenue to the city, student concerns are the last thing on the minds of many politicians.

Luckily, ACCESS does not have to start from scratch. There are a few students with experience on the local level. Fourth-year student Nicholas Smith is highly involved in city affairs and is currently the chair of the Berkeley Commission on Labor, in addition to sitting on the Housing Advisory Commission.

Aside from recruiting more students to be policy makers, Smith works to educate students about their rights as tenets. As part of the Housing Advisory Commission, Smith wants to ensure affordable housing options are kept open to students.

While ACCESS has a fluid structure and is responsive to its members, there is one person more than anyone else who guides its moves. Igor Tregub is the personification of what ACCESS stands for. He has worked tirelessly to represent students, as a member of the city Labor Commission, a former ASUC Senator, and a concerned student resident.

As of now, the main areas of work for ACCESS are affordable housing, transportation, student safety, economic development (especially Telegraph Avenue improvement), and disaster preparedness. However, at upcoming meetings, the group invites all interested students to come and voice their concerns. Based upon the input received, ACCESS will refocus its efforts.

There are a few plans to help improve the businesses around campus. ACCESS has been lobbying the Zoning Adjustment Board to continue allowing businesses on Telegraph a 2 a.m. closing time without the need to apply for a special use permit. Also in the works are ways to support North Side businesses that stay open late.

The group encourages students to apply for city commissions and recently interviewed nominees for the Rent Stabilization Board who were friendly toward students.

ACCESS is developing different projects to engage students and influence local decisions. One of the group’s current projects is registering students to vote. As part of the Cal Votes Coalition, members of ACCESS are working with many student groups to register as many students as possible for the November election. Coupled with this is education about local issues.

The group is preparing a guide to local ballot initiatives and is working with other groups to sponsor a candidates’ debate. Through this registration and education, student concerns will take on new importance in the upcoming election as politicians take notice.

ACCESS also held a city walkthrough recently. With the City of Berkeley and the UC Police Department, it identified unsafe areas in the neighborhood. From this, a plan with comments such as where to improve lighting will be submitted to the city.

There is also a related DeCal, "The Other Berkeley: An Introduction to City Affairs." Through guest speakers, students learn about local policy and how to affect the community in general. By interacting with local political figures and leaders, students give their view on the community and town-and-gown issues. From this hands-on approach, students can learn the local issues and develop a relationship with policy makers and community leaders where students and town politicians work together.

In May it would be interesting to see how cost effective ACCESS will have been. While the ASUC External Affairs Office is officially responsible for representing students on the local level, it also spends student fees and has scores of interns working on projects. In contrast, ACCESS is an independently financed organization that receives no money from the ASUC. ACCESS is not an exclusive organization that tries to handle things on its own. It tries to work with other groups and form coalitions whenever possible to get things done.

ACCESS is shaping up to be a solid organization with specific ideas and goals. Putting partisan politics aside, it works for issues common to all Cal students. Since all groups are ultimately defined by the people in them, the passionate and committed members of ACCESS will advance their group as well as student issues very far.

ACCESS can be contacted at calaccess@gmail.com.

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