The Claim
The proponents of the new higher density zoning plan assert that the old zoning provisions were racist, and getting rid of them and replacing them with new ones is a step toward anti-racism.

The Strategy
Proponents point to the racist covenants of the past, where owners were forbidden from selling their houses to people of color, Chinese, Jews, etc. Despite these covenants being long gone, they claim that the residue of racism persists in single family housing, because minorities don't have the means to buy these houses —a claim that is rather demeaning in and of itself. By proclaiming that the rezoning combats racism, opposition is neutralized. If you are against the plan, you are a de facto racist.

The Facts
The opposition to Berkeley high density residential rezoning is based on the many deleterious effects of rezoning, none of which are race or ethnicity related, as discussed in other parts of our website. Those who stand to gain from rezoning are not idealistic anti-racists, but rather real estate development and corporate interests.

Zoning regulates how land can be used, not who can use it. For instance, it can designate land as residential or commercial or industrial or agricultural. But it can’t designate land as Caucasians only or rich people only or one religion only.

The notion that zoning can correct for past discriminatory deed restriction and covenants is wishful thinking. Zoning can set standards for lot size and coverage, height limits, setbacks, and number of units per lot or acre, but having landowners/developers build market rate housing is no assurance that the properties will become more affordable for renting or purchase by those groups targeted by previous discrimination.

The Bottom Line
The issue of racism in zoning is a red herring that can be cynically utilized by those who seek to set one side against another and stigmatize opponents of rezoning as those who support a racist cause, or are racists themselves.

Berkeley at large is very anti-racist. Yes, we pioneered single family zoning over 100 years ago, but now none of the city is restricted to a single home on a single lot. We have a fine history of desegregation, particularly in education. Fighting racism is part of our culture of beliefs in Berkeley.

Rezoning has nothing to do with racism, full stop.