Making It Work in Berkeley: Investing in Community Sustainability

The city of Berkeley, California, has piloted seismic and fire safety efforts in all sectors of the community. The municipal government, the local school district, and the University of California, Berkeley, campus have instituted mitigation policies and safety programs that collectively have reduced community risk. Using innovative political, financial, and legislative approaches, Berkeley is systematically reconstructing or eliminating its most hazardous buildings. Much of this progress can be attributed to an atmosphere in which leaders take responsibility for reducing risk. Each of the three stories described in this case study began with individuals who understood the risk and had the courage to press three independent agencies to consider these hazards seriously in their agendas.