Welcome to another episode of the Doomloop Dispatch, the news show covering the worst parts of the San Francisco Bay Area. In this episode, Kevin talks to James “Jim” McGrath, a Berkeley activist with decades of experience in dealing with the city’s political landscape. Like Emeryville, real estate interests took over the city and now rule it with an iron hand. We get into how real estate took over, how bike lanes are a part of the gentrification and what Jim has seen over the years.

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Sources:

Mayoral appointment:

https://patch.com/california/berkeley/berkeley-man-receives-gubernatorial-appointment

Jim’s Opinion pieces:

https://www.berkeleyside.org/author/jim-mcgrath

Ben Gould being a scumbag

https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2017/02/01/berkeley-student-group-accuses-council-candidate-gould-of-campaign-violations/

Jim’s sources on YIMBYs

https://www.housingisahumanright.org/why-is-california-yimby-hiding-the-names-of-big-money-contributors/

https://www.transparencyusa.org/ca/committee/jesse-arreguin-for-state-senate-2024-1458186-ctl

https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2017/oct/02/rise-of-the-yimbys-angry-millennials-radical-housing-solution

What Is a YIMBY? (Hint: It’s Not Good)

Inside Game: California YIMBY, Scott Wiener, and Big Tech’s Troubling Housing Push

Why Is California YIMBY Hiding the Names of Big-Money Contributors?