Courthouse News Service: In a victory for opponents of the U.S. Postal Service’s planned sale of the historic Berkeley, California, post office, a federal judge found Monday that the government could not prove a city ordinance blocking the sale is unconstitutional. In 2011, the Postal Service announced plans to sell the 104-year old neoclassical building, designed by famed architect Oscar … Read More
City of Berkeley wins lawsuit with the Postal Service over zoning law involving historic post office
The City of Berkeley has won its lawsuit with the Postal Service over the rezoning of the downtown area where the historic post office is located. The Postal Service filed this action in federal court back in August 2016. The Postal Service complained that the zoning ordinance enacted by the City of Berkeley in September 2014 had interfered with its efforts to … Read More
Trial Starts Monday on The U.S. Postal Service v. The City of Berkeley
Save the Berkeley Post Office: At 12 Noon on Monday, April 2, 2018, the lawsuit initiated by the United States Post Office and the United States Department of Justice against the City of Berkeley will come to trial. Back in August of 2016, the Feds initiated this suit in a challenge to the right of the City of Berkeley to … Read More
Trial Unlikely in Fight Over Berkeley Post Office
A federal judge seemed disinclined to order a trial in the U.S. Postal Service’s now four-year legal fight with the city of Berkeley over the planned sale of its historic downtown post office, wary of claims the city is intentionally trying to diminish the building’s value and discourage buyers. “We’re not just talking about the Postal Service’s ability to sell … Read More
Feds Press Lawsuit Against Berkeley’s Historic Civic Center District
Save the Berkeley Post Office Newsletter: The City of Berkeley and the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), acting on behalf of the U.S. Postal Service, will be in Federal Court on Thursday January 11, 2018. This hearing is the result of a suit filed by the DOJ against Berkeley on August 22, 2016. The DOJ suit alleges that Berkeley’s Civic … Read More
Feds file lawsuit over Berkeley’s main post office
Berkeleyside: Berkeley’s attempt to limit commercial development of the Main Post Office conflicts with federal law and should be overturned, a lawsuit filed in federal court Monday by the U.S. Postal Service declares. When Berkeley passed the Civic Center Overlay in September 2014, limiting the post office and eight other buildings to civic uses such as museums, libraries and performance halls, … Read More
DOJ threatens lawsuit over Berkeley post office
Berkeleyside: In a strongly worded letter, the U.S. Department of Justice has warned the city of Berkeley that a lawsuit could be coming over the city’s “interference” with USPS plans to sell its downtown post office on Allston Way. The DOJ’s Civil Division sent the letter — stamped April 28 — to Mayor Tom Bates, and asked for a response by … Read More
Berkeley activists celebrate legacy of 17-month post office occupation
The Daily Californian: Though the occupation has ended, members of local activist groups returned to the steps and sidewalks outside the Berkeley Main Post Office on Saturday to commemorate their 17-month demonstration. About 30 community members gathered to hear from former protesters and activists 11 days after U.S. Postal Service officials dismantled the encampment April 12. The celebration included live … Read More
Berkeley post office worthy of passion, protest
San Jose Mercury: Consider some of Berkeley's signature protests. Legions of students sitting in for free speech. Citizen activists fighting to keep People's Park for the people. Tree-sitters giving voice to a grove of whispering oaks outside Memorial Stadium. Another one — with the requisite components of activism, occupation and principled outrage — has been raging quietly at the corner of … Read More
Court dismisses lawsuit over Berkeley post office after USPS rescinds decision to sell the historic building
The Postal Service has rescinded its decision to relocate and sell the historic post office on Allston Way in Berkeley, California. As a result, the legal case challenging the sale has been declared moot by the court, and the case has been dismissed. The lawsuit was filed by the City of Berkeley and the National Trust for Historic Preservation late … Read More