The Mayor's Monthly: August 2026
- Support fire-safe building practices
- Prioritize election integrity and safety
- Promote local small businesses with community impact
- Provide resident assistance for defensible space compliance
- Berkeley's Zone Zero fire safety initiative
- Defensible space violations in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones
- Market Match nutrition incentive program
- Resident Assistance Program for vegetation removal
** THE MAYOR’S MONTHLY
** August 2026
A Few Things I Learned on the Road
I spent part of this summer traveling in Greece and Egypt, and I came home with a few things worth sharing.
In Greece, I kept noticing how many homes were built with defensible space and fire-resistant materials like stone. With climate change driving wildfires there that look a lot like what we're seeing in California, those design choices made a real difference: homes built this way survived fires that swept through entire villages. It's the same principle behind Berkeley's Zone Zero work. Building our homes to be fire safe isn't optional anymore. It's how we protect our community.
In Egypt, conversations kept turning to the Arab Spring, the wave of pro-democracy uprisings that swept across the Middle East and North Africa starting in 2010 and 2011. People there talked about what they sacrificed for free and fair elections, and it was a reminder not to take our own democracy for granted. As we head into another election cycle, protecting the integrity of our elections and keeping them safe and fair has to stay a priority for all of us.
Traveling also gave me something else: perspective. This job is intense, for me and for my staff and council colleagues alike. Taking care of yourself, physically and mentally, isn't a luxury when the work is this demanding. I try to eat real meals, stay hydrated, get to the gym and step away when I can. I'd encourage anyone carrying a heavy load to do the same.
More soon on how these lessons are shaping our work here at home.
In community,
Adena Ishii
Berkeley Mayor
** IN THIS ISSUE
Small Business Spotlight: (#SmallBiz) #SmallBiz
Darling Electric Salon
Nonprofit Spotlight: (#nonprofit)
Ecology Center
Resources: (#Resources)
Resident Assistance Program
** SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT ()
From cafes to manufacturers, Berkeley has no shortage of creative and innovative small businesses that add to the vibrancy of our city.
Continuing to shine a spotlight on some of those businesses, this month it's District 2:
Darling Electric Salon (https://us.list-manage.com/19FhZbnEJ2b?e=e10689cfb6&c2id=e2dac0323de66ba1ea45bfe3821a0841) is a women-owned salon offering cuts, color, and styling to people of all genders, ethnicities, ages, and abilities. They care about the environment, the community, and creating a safe hair experience for all humans. The salon donates 5% of their retail sales to our neighbors at Berkeley Youth Alternatives and pay the Shuumi Land Tax.
Thanks to Jennifer Wilks for submitting the recommendation!
Darling Electric Salon
2522 San Pablo Avenue
Hours
Tuesday - Thursday | 9:00 am - 6:30 pm
Friday | 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Saturday | 9:00 am - 6:30 pm
Sunday | 10am - 6:00 pm
CLOSED MONDAYS
RECOMMEND A BUSINESS TO SPOTLIGHT IN A FUTURE NEWSLETTER (mailto:mayor@berkeleyca.gov?subject=null&body=null)
** NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT ()
Berkeley is fortunate to home to a diverse and significant number of nonprofit organizations that provide vital support and services to the community and raise awareness about important issues.
This month, we’re spotlighting an organization in District 2:
Founded in 1969, the Ecology Center (https://us.list-manage.com/xG6lgli2gcq?e=e10689cfb6&c2id=e2dac0323de66ba1ea45bfe3821a0841) works to improve the health and environmental well-being of urban communities. They address critical issues through a model of education, demonstration, replication, and advocacy.
Ecology Center’s services include farmers' markets, residential curbside recycling, classes and workshops, Youth Environmental Academy, a store for sustainable living, and a demonstration house and garden. They also convene the California Alliance of Farmers' Markets and lead Market Match, an innovative nutrition incentive program that doubles the value of CalFresh benefits at farmers' markets across California.
RECOMMEND A NONPROFIT TO SPOTLIGHT IN A FUTURE NEWSLETTER (mailto:mayor@berkeleyca.gov?subject=null&body=null)
** RESOURCES ()
The Resident Assistance Program (RAP) (https://us.list-manage.com/lFFB8mccIgC?e=e10689cfb6&c2id=e2dac0323de66ba1ea45bfe3821a0841) is a grant-funded initiative that provides financial and/or logistical support to qualified residents facing challenges with vegetation removal and/or addressing defensible space violations in the Grizzly Peak Mitigation Area, Panoramic Hills Mitigation Area, or in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone.
RAP can help coordinate work, provide funding, and connect residents with contractors to resolve defensible space violations on their property.
If there are events or resources you would like the Mayor's office to share, please email mmale@berkeleyca.gov.
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