CITY COUNCIL SENDS INITIATIVES TO VOTERS

After months of debate, Berkeley City Council formally opposed two
controversial initiatives to decriminalize prostitution and to
increase the number of marijuana plants allowed for in-home growth at
Tuesday's council meeting.

Angel's Initiative to decriminalize prostitution and the Patients'
Access to Medical Cannabis Act of 2004 to relax limits on medical
marijuana growth will come to the voters, as both gained enough
signatures to land on the November ballot without council approval.

The decision came after the city manager released two reports
detailing safety concerns associated with the initiatives two weeks
ago.

The reports indicated a possible increase of crime as a result of
loosening marijuana cultivation laws and the potential for Berkeley to
become a center for prostitution if it is decriminalized.

The council also opposed the Berkeley Tree Act of 2004 Tuesday,
sending it to the November ballot.

The act aims at preventing the unnecessary removal of healthy public
tress by creating a new board to authorize tree planting, tampering
and removal on public property. The act would require the annual
planting of 480 public trees, and any action involving a public tree
would require a tree impact report.

The city manager advised against the initiative.