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Reposted by Alfred Twu

Rent Board Commissioner Alfred Twu @alfredtwu.net · 6h

#Berkeley Rent Board meets this Thursday at 7pm. Public can participate in person at 1231 Addison St or online, zoom link and agenda at rentboard.berkeleyca.gov/berkeley-ren...

Lots of updates this month. 1/

Berkeley Rent Board Meeting
Thurs 10/16/25 - 7pm
Updates on ADU Condo Proposed Ordinance & Price Setting Algorithms
Legislative Update
Annual General Adjustment for controlled rents
...and more
Berkeley Rent Board Commissioner Alfred Twu

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Alfred Twu @alfredtwu.com · 6h

The last model train event I went to, an open house in Fremont's Niles depot, I didn't see anyone between the ages of 12 and 40.

However, when I went to Muni Heritage Weekend in San Francisco, where Muni brought out the vintage buses and streetcars - you're spot on for the 20-30 age group!

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Alfred Twu @alfredtwu.com · 9h

Harpreet Sandhu is a former Richmond councilmember.
His support letters are from Ahmad Anderson, former chair of Richmond's Economic Development Commission, State Senator Jesse Arreguín, and Kathy Chao Rothberg, CEO of Lao Family Community Development.
www.actransit.org/sites/defaul...

www.actransit.org

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Alfred Twu @alfredtwu.com · 9h

Nick Pilch is a former Albany mayor and current BART train operator.
His support letters are from Albany mayor Robin López, Albany councilmember Preston Jordan, and environmental advocate Max Davis.
www.actransit.org/sites/defaul...

www.actransit.org

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Alfred Twu @alfredtwu.com · 10h

Joanna Pace is a transit & education activist who's also served on the boards of a variety of local organizations.
Her support letters are from El Cerrito Councilmembers Gabe Quinto and Rebecca Saltzman @rebeccaforec.bsky.social & San Pablo councilmember Rita Xavier www.actransit.org/sites/defaul...

www.actransit.org

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Alfred Twu @alfredtwu.com · 10h

Jovanka Beckles is a former AC Transit board member (2020-2024, when she ran for State Senate instead) & former Richmond City Councilmember.
Her support letters are from @350baaction.bsky.social AFSCME 3916 and ATU 192, two unions that represent AC Transit workers.
www.actransit.org/sites/defaul...

www.actransit.org

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Alfred Twu @alfredtwu.com · 12h

AC Transit directors are normally elected by the public, but vacancies are filled by appointment, voted on by the remaining 6 people on the board. The Ward 1 seat was previously held by Chris Peeples, who died earlier this year after a long career of service on the board.

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Alfred Twu @alfredtwu.com · 12h

Four people have applied for the appointment to the AC Transit board Ward 1 (Albany & West Contra Costa County) seat.🚌
- Jovanka Beckles
- Joanna Pace
- Nick Pilch
- Harpreet Sandhu
Details including their cover letter and letters of recommendation can be viewed at
www.actransit.org/boardofdirec...

Ward 1 Vacancy Recruitment | Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District

Applicants Sought to Fill Vacancy on the AC Transit Board of Directors A vacancy exists on the AC Transit Board of Directors representing Ward 1. Any person interested in filling this vacancy mus...

www.actransit.org

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Alfred Twu @alfredtwu.com · 21h

This afternoon, free flu vaccines available in Berkeley! This one is on campus but is open to all.

City of Berkeley @berkeleyca.gov · 1d

Get your free flu vaccine tomorrow at the UC Berkeley Recreational Sports Facility!

Tuesday, October 14, 2025
2:00 pm-6:00 pm
2301 Bancroft Way

Open to everyone 6 months and older: no appointment, ID or insurance required.

Find our other free vaccine clinics:

Flu season is here: vaccinate | City of Berkeley

City of Berkeley Public Health urges flu shots for everyone six months and older. Get free vaccines at pop-up clinics throughout October or at our Immunization Clinic. Anyone 6 months or older can get a free flu shot at City of Berkeley Public Health flu clinics. Flu shots help protect yourself and your household from serious illness.Free City pop-up clinics, running from October 14 to October 29, will help prepare you for winter, when flu cases rise. You can also make an appointment at our West Berkeley Immunization Clinic, open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. No ID or insurance is required.Your health care provider or a local pharmacy may also offer free or low-cost flu vaccinations.

berkeleyca.gov

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Alfred Twu @alfredtwu.com · 21h

A well written article on Canada's version of San Francisco's Angel Island. Early 1900s US & Canadian immigration policy had many racist similarities, causing Asian immigrants being detained for long periods of time.

While the building in Victoria no longer exists, Angel Island is a museum today.

Ben MacLeod 馬志斌 @benmacleod.bsky.social · 21h

New Wikipedia article, hot off the presses

(with thanks to @sschwinghamer.bsky.social and others at Pier 21 for already publishing a comprehensive piece about Victoria, BC's immigration facilities, which I have linked to in the footnotes)

Immigration Building - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

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Alfred Twu @alfredtwu.com · 1d

Updated the 2025 California Housing Legislation Highlights summary and illustration. Have a look at this year's results on housing bills! #CALeg
tinyurl.com/2025housingbills

2025 California Housing Legislation Highlights Bill Tracker

This is the summary for 2025. For past years: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 Final update: October 13, 2025

tinyurl.com

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Reposted by Alfred Twu

👁️🍄🪸 @bloomfilters.bsky.social · 1d

rest in power miss major. this is what it means to constantly be negotiating your existence!

The Transfeminine Review @thetransfemininereview.com · 1d

"You make the best of it all and hope you can help make it a little better for the gurl after you."

- Miss Major, 2023 💔

One of the things I hear with some younger trans people I know is they feel, "I'm gonna get this surgery, and I'm gonna learn that way of speaking, and I'm gonna be done." You're never done. If you're a straight, cisgender person, you're never done. Things are always happening that have the potential to change you. So all I am today is not who I'm gonna be tomorrow, because of the things that happened to me today and later tonight. People forget that. "Oh, after I transition, I'm gonna be through." Well, good luck with that. 'Cause if you're through, then it's time to leave, you know, and I don't wanna go anywhere yet.
I'm in my seventies. Why didn't I stop? Number one is community. My gurls. I've had moments of thinking about stopping, but I didn't. I made sure I would step back, reju- venate myself, and then got back out there, and that's how you make a way. Our stories are not all the same, but the destination is: to get some place where we have some peace and harmony, and we can be at ease with ourselves and the people around us. You make the best of it all and hope you can help make it a little better for the gurl after you.

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Reposted by Alfred Twu

Alfred Twu @alfredtwu.com · 1d

Last batch of legislation updates - of the 15 priority bills from the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus that made it to the Governor's desk, (lgbtqcaucus.legislature.ca.gov/legislative-...) 12 signed, 3 vetoed www.gov.ca.gov/2025/10/13/g...

Details in thread. 1/

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Alfred Twu @alfredtwu.com · 1d

Currently, Paid Family Leave can only be used to care for a child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse or domestic partner.

With SB590, starting July 2028, any designated person with "equivalent of a family relationship" is eligible - such as a cousin, chosen family, unmarried partners

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Alfred Twu @alfredtwu.com · 1d

Finally, the Governor also signed two bills to support LGBTQ families:
SB 450 - Strengthens law recognizing LGBTQ parents' parent-child relationship with their children.
SB 590 - Paid Family Leave for Chosen Families. (this one is a *big* deal, it expands it to both chosen & extended families!)

6/

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Alfred Twu @alfredtwu.com · 1d

A couple bills on education and housing were signed earlier this month:

AB678, a @votealexlee.bsky.social housing bill to gather data and create recommendations for LGBTQ homeless housing programs, was signed.

AB727, to add Trevor Project hotline to grade 7-12 student ID cards, was also signed. 5/

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Alfred Twu @alfredtwu.com · 1d

There were two bills to reduce hate:
AB449, to create a radio, online, and TV anti-hate ad campaign was vetoed, the reason provided was the funding for it wasn't included the state budget.

AB822, to extend a commission that assists state agencies on combating hate, was signed. 4/

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Alfred Twu @alfredtwu.com · 1d

Mixed bag on health access:

Signed:
AB1487 - Two-Spirit health grants
SB278, SB504 - Authorizes limited data sharing to improve access to HIV care

Vetoed:
AB554 - Expands access to PrEP
SB418 - Authorizes 12 month supply of hormones

Both vetoes' reason was the rising cost of health insurance 3/

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Alfred Twu @alfredtwu.com · 1d

Laws on medical records, name, and gender markers are strengthened, with the following 4 bills all signed.

AB82 - Medical data privacy
SB497 - Shield law for trans healthcare + data privacy
AB1084 - Shortens name/gender change court orders to 6 weeks.
SB59 - Seals name/gender change records.
2/

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Alfred Twu @alfredtwu.com · 1d

Last batch of legislation updates - of the 15 priority bills from the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus that made it to the Governor's desk, (lgbtqcaucus.legislature.ca.gov/legislative-...) 12 signed, 3 vetoed www.gov.ca.gov/2025/10/13/g...

Details in thread. 1/

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Reposted by Alfred Twu

Seamless Bay Area @seamlessbayareaca.bsky.social · 1d

Yay, SB63 signed into law, authorizing a regional transit funding measure for the SF Bay Area, essential to save and improve service for BART, Muni, AC Transit, Caltrain! Bill allows a signature-gathering effort that would passage with 50%+1 of the vote. www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/u...

www.gov.ca.gov

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Reposted by Alfred Twu

Rent Board Commissioner Alfred Twu @alfredtwu.net · 1d

Today is Indigenous Peoples' Day. 33 years ago, Berkeley was the first city to celebrate this day.

Learn more about the Ohlone and other Indigenous peoples - the Berkeley library has a webpage with articles, books, and more - www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org/topics/Ohlon...

October 13, 2025
Indigenous Peoples' Day
Drawing of Berkeley skyline with yellows oranges and reds and clouds and sun in sky above
Berkeley Rent Board Commissioner Alfred Twu

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Reposted by Alfred Twu

AC Transit @rideact.bsky.social · 1d

With rain in the forecast this week, here are a few quick reminders:

✅ Track your bus with ACT RealTime: actransit.org/rt and plan accordingly
✅ Don't forget an umbrella or raincoat.
✅ Hold onto railings
✅ Place wet umbrellas beneath the seats

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Alfred Twu @alfredtwu.com · 2d

Tomorrow, October 13 is the last day for California's governor to sign legislation. Many bills including most of this year's LGBTQ rights bills remain on his desk - ask him to sign at gov.ca.gov/contact and (916) 445-2841 (phone lines open at 9am)

Alfred Twu @alfredtwu.com · 8d

Among this year's LGBTQ rights state bills, the six California trans rights bills are:

Healthcare
AB1487
SB418

Privacy
AB82
AB1084
SB59
SB497
lgbtqcaucus.legislature.ca.gov/legislative-...

2025 Legislative and Budget Priorities | California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus

lgbtqcaucus.legislature.ca.gov

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Alfred Twu @alfredtwu.com · 2d

The bill language only mentions rail and bus, so it wouldnt

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