William Brand,  Oakland Tribune May 22, 1993

In praise of Berkeley: City actually listened to group's complaints about noise and toxins

Several west Berkeley neighbors did a most un-Berkeley thing Friday. They did not protest, nor did they turn in petitions or threaten to sue.

Far from it. The group, known as Neighbors of the Corporation Yard, called a press conference at the yard between Channing and Allston Ways to praise the city.

The only sign held by the nearly two dozen residents during a tour of the yard where the city fuels and repairs vehicles and empties and cleans trucks was a chart showing how Berkeley is complying with state water pollution runoff laws.

"The city listened. So we took this opportunity to say thank you," said L A Wood, who lives on Channing Way across the street from the yard and regularly complains at City Council meetings about noise, toxic substances and even police cars screeching into the yard for more gasoline at all hours of the night.

"We brought them our complaints and they looked into them and made changes," said John Thomas, a nine-year Charming Way resident, "Sure, we still have problems, but they're trying to correct them."

Wood and Thomas pointed out that a year ago neighbors held a similar tour and bitterly challenged yard operations. Since then, neighbors have found Deputy City Manager Weldon Rucker and acting Public Works Director Vicki Elmer willing listeners. Wood noted that street sweepers used to whisk trash down storm drains, but no longer do so. Waste oil stored at the yard sometimes flowed over inadequate containment barriers, Wood said, adding that he made that discovery when a tennis ball flew over the fence and dropped into a puddle of oil seeping toward a storm drain.

Today, oil is well contained.

Four-way stop signs at Allston Way and Acton Street now slow city drivers down as they drive into and out of the yard. Fast moving vehicles used to bother families with children. There's more. The city planted trees, and Elmer said she has assigned a staff person to evaluate a plan for a sound barrier, "We're going to put in our public works program," she said.