Profile:  Chip Moore, City Council District 3

District 3 is an interesting race with three candidates.  Two are considered progressive, one being Ben Bartlett, a second-term Council member.

This article will introduce a progressive challenger, John (“Chip”) Moore. Chip’s website highlights these recent accomplishments (see his website at https://chipinberkeley.vote/):

Chip currently serves the City of Berkeley as the Chair of the city’s Police Accountability Board, as well as a being a City of Berkeley Planning Commissioner. In the past, Chip also served as the Chair of Berkeley’s BART Community Advisory Group as they tackled the planning for the futures of Berkeley’s BART stations and their function and place in the community. 

Chip works with community groups including Friends of Adeline and Healthy Black Families. Chip is proud to lead both the Berkeley Unified School District’s Reparations Taskforce as well as the Berkeley Democratic Caucus where he serves as their respective chairs.

Berkeley Speaks asked Chip to expand on what makes him stand out from the self-described progressive city council majority. He made it clear that he:

  • Would not have voted to remove the homeless encampments without there being enough shelter beds.
  • Isn’t running for City Council so that he can be the next Assemblymember or Supervisor.
  • Voted against the “missing middle” ordinance as a Planning Commissioner because it is a solution in search of a problem. He believes in addressing historical/continuing injustices against marginalized communities, but allowing developers to come in and buy up properties to turn them into tri- & four-plexes only continues to exacerbate the problem.
  • Voted against the installation of cameras to read license plates because of privacy concerns; Council approved a questionable technology that has far reaching consequences.
  • Support ceasefire and US arms embargo on Israel.
  • Supports BUSD Ethnic Studies. Supports our BUSD Superintendent and believes the city should help BUSD with the after-school childcare. 

In his article “Chip on the issues,” the candidate lays out his vision on his top priorities of Education, Labor, Healthcare, Public Safety, Climate Policy, and Housing.  The last of these, Housing, has some of the most worked-out planks in his platform.

Controversy over the Ashby BART Station Housing Plan

For context, the city council voted on September 16, 2024, to approve a negotiated agreement with BART to build housing in the two parking lots at the Ashby Station in South Berkeley. The plan divides responsibility for development in the lots between BART and the City of Berkeley.  All told, hundreds of apartments will be created along with office space for community organizations.

For context, the city council voted on September 16, 2024, to approve a negotiated agreement with BART to build housing in the two parking lots at the Ashby Station in South Berkeley. The plan divides responsibility for development in the lots between BART and the City of Berkeley.  All told, hundreds of apartments will be created along with office space for community organizations.

South Berkeley groups were hoping for a fully affordable, particularly low-income living spaces. But their hopes for 100% affordability were dashed when the agreement with BART was revealed to promise more like 35% to 50% affordable. Put the reverse way, that would guarantee some 50% to 65% market rate apartments, that is, un-affordable housing.

It’s also important to understand that “affordable housing” is a pretty misleading term.  There are actually several levels of below market housing.

Below market rate is for families earning under 120% of Area Median Income (AMI), which in 2021 for the Bay Area was $125,600 for a family of four; therefore, market rate kicks in for such families at an income of $150,701.[1] 

Here is what the terms of the agreement specifically provide.[2] They are confusing and appear to be contradictory. Berkeley Speaks’ analysis appears in brackets.

  • At least 35% of new housing, inclusive of density bonus units, must be affordable to households earning an average of up to 60% of AMI.
  • [In 2021 that would $75,360—Editor].
  • At least 20% of the required 35% affordable units referred to in subparagraph (i) must be affordable to Extremely Low-Income (“ELI”) households, which are defined as those earning up to 30% of AMI.
  • [$37,680 or $41,100, depending on your source. Also, 20% of 35% translates to only 7% of all units built—Editor].
  • Of the required 35% affordable units referred to in subparagraph (i), additional affordable units aside from the ELI units should prioritize Very Low Income (up to 50% of AMI) households and Low Income (up to 80%) households but may include some housing restricted to households with moderate incomes (up to 120% of AMI), provided that the moderate income units have rents that are still below market and are not funded by City subsidies.
    • This appears to mean that as many as 28% of all units built may be affordable to households making up to 120% of AMI, that is, up to $150,701.  The remaining 65% may be considered market-rate.—Editor].

Chip Moore takes a different tack in his letter to the Mayor and Council dated July 7, 2024 and titled “ASHBY BART Development: Strategies to Mitigate the Housing Crisis and Preserve Community Diversity.” He proposes:

By establishing a Community Land Trust (CLT) at the Ashby Bart Station, South Berkeley, the Bay Area Rapid Transit can maintain ownership of the land while selling condominiums at below-market prices, ensuring long-term affordability for low- and moderate-income residents.

Chip’s six-page proposal flows through a problem statement, the urgency of action, alternative solutions considered, criteria for evaluation, projected outcomes, and policy recommendations. It is worth a read as it premises the CLT on ownership, “at below-market prices, ensuring long-term affordability for low- and moderate-income residents.”  

[1] “Berkeley Housing Element,” Berkeley City Council, 28-29, February 17 2023, https://berkeleyca.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Berkeley_2023-2031%20Housing%20Element_02-17-2023v2_0.pdf

[2] “Ashby BART Transit Oriented Development,” Berkeley Planning and Development Department, September 16 2024, 10, https://berkeleyca.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2024-09-16%20Special%20Item%2001%20Ashby%20BART%20Transit%20Oriented%20-%20Rev.pdf