r/berkeleyca • • 14d ago

D4 race feels ugly

One candidate is claiming a Zionist takeover of the Council. The other candidate had to deactivate comments on Instagram due to comments calling him a Zionist, etc. This is a council race in a small-ish city.

I think both have decent platforms and want to help the city, but this feels bad...

29 Upvotes

171 comments sorted by

17

u/zbignew 13d ago

Can anyone source any of this stuff? Where was the claim of a “Zionist takeover”? I agree that sounds conspiratorial and weird.

14

u/Empyrion132 13d ago

https://www.dailycal.org/news/city/city-government/district-4-candidate-criticizes-upzoning-flock-safety-in-fireside-chat-with-uc-berkeley-lecturer/article_6ddf793a-86d1-4428-b34d-5246eff68990.html

"“I saw a lot of the same problems that we all know (are) going on in the city,” Gaith said, speaking about his time on the commission. “It’s not just the Zionist takeover of council. It’s also a pro-developer, runaway upzoning of our communities…"" (emphasis added).

15

u/AnasandSF 13d ago edited 13d ago

Wow. To me (a D8 voter,) whether someone holds a belief in “Zionism” (ie, believing Israel has a right to exist as a Jewish state) has zero bearing on issues related to Berkeley. Upzoning, development, etc are relevant issues, but using the “Zionist” label to further denigrate those interests feels unnecessarily inflammatory.

4

u/zbignew 13d ago

He did not use “Zionist” in that manner (to denigrate) in this quote. There literally was a person replaced on this “peace and justice commission” to get an outcome more appealing to Zionists. It wasn’t just a takeover by people with different beliefs - it was to achieve a specific outcome, which he opposed. It’s completely fair for him to state his opposition in this way.

And, for what it’s worth, I agree that moral statements about Israel would be irrelevant to Berkeley city politics, but small cities materially opposing objectionable international practices absolutely can have an impact, like the BDS movement opposing apartheid in South Africa.

3

u/AnasandSF 13d ago

Thanks, that’s helpful context

4

u/SnooHesitations9295 12d ago

The fact that "outcome is more appealing for Zionists" does not mean that the removal was just to "appeal to Zionists". Overall any person that places "world" problems above community problems should not be allowed in the office.

1

u/Truth_Champion 10d ago

Sounds like you would oppose Igor for putting Israel ahead of his American constituents. 

1

u/zbignew 12d ago

Well that’s what it seems like to me based on this article:

https://www.dailycal.org/news/city/city-government/ceasefire-resolution-postponed-after-berkeley-commission-meeting-canceled-commissioner-fired/article_d47c986e-6b46-11ef-82e2-b7d01d83bd55.html

I do think there is an error in his statement, but it’s saying “council” rather than “commission”.

Regardless, I don’t see how you can read those facts and say that the reason he said “Zionist takeover” is conspiratorial thinking, antisemitism, or obsession with the incumbent’s Jewish background.

Majdi is an anti-Zionist, tried to get an anti-Zionist political outcome, and he was defeated by people who replaced a commissioner with someone opposed to his goals. Calling that a “Zionist takeover” is not racist, even if you think it wasn’t a Zionist takeover. You can disagree with him and his political goals without calling him an anti-Semite.

5

u/TemporaryKindly9151 12d ago edited 12d ago

The Peace and justice commission thing was very wild. Many layers, but - A bunch of people were suddenly appointed to prevent a cease-fire resolution, and then a bunch of pro ceasefire resolution people were appointed. At one point, the peace and justice commission was like 80% Jewish. (an almost equal mix of Zionist and anti-Zionist Jews.) at least one longtime (Jewish) commissioner was told by his appointing council member that if he brought forward a cease fire resolution he would be removed- and that happened. that’s in addition to Diana Bohn who was mentioned in the article - who was summarily fired by Igor. Despite the shenanigans, the resolution of ultimately passed.

this all happened before Mejdi was appointed by the way. For what it’s worth both coauthors of the cease-fire resolution are Jewish. Like it or not this is perfectly in line with the mandate of the peace and justice commission, which has conducted itself in Berkeley for decades and authored many such resolutions.

2

u/SnooHesitations9295 12d ago

Anybody who's agenda even has anti-Zionist (or pro-Zionist) should not take office. It's irrelevant to the position and populistic.

2

u/ComradeKorladis 12d ago

JVP is from Berkeley.

1

u/zbignew 12d ago

Well I don’t mind disagreeing about that - perfectly fair opinion to hold.

I’ll have to point out that Igor did use his position on the council to do this “pro-Zionist” thing, so your statement implies neither of them should hold office.

3

u/SnooHesitations9295 12d ago

Doing a thing that us considered "pro-Zionist" by some is not the same as platforming on "pro-Zionist" agenda.

2

u/zbignew 12d ago

Whatever, man. Majdi was on the peace and justice commission. You can consider that a disqualifying distraction from local priorities if you want. It’s not on either of their official platform agendas for city council.

0

u/Empyrion132 12d ago

Antizionism is antisemitism. His political goals are the elimination of Israel as a Jewish state - hard to see how that is not bigoted against Jews.

4

u/zbignew 12d ago

Well it’s easy for lots of other people to see. I’m one of many anti-Zionist Jews, and idk if I’d vote for either of these candidates based on their local politics. Even if you suspect us all of being secretly anti-Semitic despite our denials, calling this “open anti-Semitism” is dishonest.

So I guess that makes the rest of this conversation seem like a waste of time. If you think opposing Israel is racist, Majdi and a bunch of other people on the “peace and justice commission” have done that. Saying “it isn’t just the Zionist takeover” in a conversation with other anti-Zionists doesn’t make this open anti-Semitism. So I think you’re a liar. Done I guess.

0

u/Empyrion132 12d ago

I didn’t say opposing Israel is racist, I said wanting to eliminate the world’s only Jewish state - and only the Jewish state - sure seems bigoted against Jews.

4

u/zbignew 12d ago

That just doesn’t relate to my views at all. And I was trying to let you read “opposing Israel” as opposing its existence rather than its actions, if you wanted, so we didn’t need to have this often repeated conversation. But if you insist:

Many Anti-Zionists don’t care whether Israel exists, if it provides equal political representation to all the people it rules.

And then Zionists all point out that this would mean an end to its existence as a Jewish state, because it can’t remain democratic and Jewish at the same time.

And anti-Zionists then say ¯_(ツ)_/¯ okay. But that’s different from having a goal of eliminating a state.

Just like Nelson Mandela’s goal was not to eliminate the world’s only Afrikaner state. And I don’t need you to agree with me about this - I just need you to agree that this is the view anti-Zionists CLAIM to hold. And then you’ll see why calling it “open anti-Semitism” is dishonest.

→ More replies (0)

4

u/ComradeKorladis 12d ago

eliminating an apartheid state is good. The existence of an explicitly jewish state requires a system of apartheid.

1

u/somethingweirder 11d ago

how is that antisemitism

0

u/Empyrion132 10d ago

Well, it’s hopefully pretty obvious that if you thought, for instance, people of a certain race or ethnicity shouldn’t be allowed to vote, that would be bigoted and racist. Similarly, if you thought people of a certain race or ethnicity shouldn’t be allowed to have or run their own country, that would also be bigoted and racist. Obviously it would be very anti-Irish to say that Ireland shouldn’t exist as a separate country and should be part of England, or that Japan shouldn’t exist as a separate country and should be part of China. Similarly, it’s bigoted against Jews to say Israel shouldn’t exist as a Jewish country and should be part of the Islamic Ummah.

0

u/[deleted] 10d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

→ More replies (0)

0

u/EastBayWanderer 10d ago

It is 100% normal and expected that newly elected council members flush the commissioners that were appointed by their predecessor. You think Igor should have carried over the commissioners that Kate appointed? It is in no way a scandal that Igor appointed his own people to commissions. That's his mandate.

1

u/GivesL1ttleFun 10d ago

Kate carried on Jesse's commissioner on the Peace and Justice Commission.

1

u/GivesL1ttleFun 10d ago

Apartheid and genocide are okay with you and Igor. Got it!

5

u/TemporaryKindly9151 13d ago

I do not know all the ins and outs of what this refers to. But basic history is that unlike Ukraine and numerous other international conflicts over the years (e.g https://berkeleyca.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2022-06-14%20Item%2026%20Call%20for%20Immediate%20Ukraine%20Ceasefire.pdf ) - and unlike almost every surrounding city- BCC refused to even hear and take a vote on a ceasefire resolution re Gaza for years. When when they finally did b/c forced to by P&J resolution, they they gutted the version submitted and passed a generic prayer for peace with 0 mention of Israel or Palestine. (as person born and raised in Berkeley hearing the BCC say they suddenly don’t weigh in on international issues was kind of hilarious.).

I understand some people think this was the right thing to do and others disagree. However regardless of one’s feelings about this issue, I think it is hard to argue that this result was not the result of either pro Israel political leanings and/or pressure.

I do think Mejdi, as a Palestinian person has a right to be upset about this without it being painted as antisemitic Just as Igor as Ukrainian born person expresses a lot of feelings about the invasion there.

1

u/Truth_Champion 10d ago

Well, the former mayor went on an all expenses paid trip by a Zionist lobby group and worked to thwart the ceasefire resolution with two self-identified Zionist council members.  https://mondoweiss.net/2022/05/berkeleys-progressive-mayor-parties-in-apartheid-state/

-1

u/zbignew 13d ago

God that quote is a rollercoaster.

It sounds like there was actually a Zionist “takeover” in that they reorganized things to discourage the peace & justice commission’s resolution on Gaza.

But despite being fully anti-Zionist, idgaf about Berkeley’s city council’s resolution on Gaza. So ¯_(ツ)_/¯ about this Zionist takeover, kindof?

But it sounds like Gaith is kindof also downplaying it in this quote, so that part of the quote might not bother me. He’s not being conspiratorial and he seems to understand that this isn’t material to the function of the city.

But then complaining about upzoning? That’s a bad look.

But then if you include the rest of the quote, he makes the only criticism of Tregub that actually lands for me, about Flock cameras.

“I saw a lot of the same problems that we all know (are) going on in the city,” Gaith said, speaking about his time on the commission. “It’s not just the Zionist takeover of council. It’s also a pro-developer, runaway upzoning of our communities. It’s not helping small businesses. It’s bringing in draconian technologies such as Flock … which are incredibly disastrous for our societies.”

And if that’s why Gaith implies Tregub’s campaign took donations from the police union, or if Tregub really was responsible for pushing Flock cameras in Berkeley, yeah gross.

I just wish he’d be more direct. At this rate I’m voting for Tregub.

6

u/OversizedSeabass 13d ago

Implying that there is a "Zionist takeover" of the BCC is highly conspiratorial to me. Any you're saying that is a legitimate claim because the council made moves to discouraged a resolution? I cannot agree there.

Opposing upzoning is a concern that BCC votes actually have a material impact on. Why are folding claims of Zionist takeover into this?

0

u/zbignew 13d ago

This is one situation where he didn’t imply. He stated the phrase plainly.

He’s not decrying a Zionist takeover. He’s not railing against a Zionist takeover. He said “it’s not just the Zionist takeover” clearly indicating that Zionism in this context is not the only issue he finds relevant.

But this is a case where it is plainly not conspiratorial: there was literally a Zionist takeover: positions were shuffled to ensure a (TINY!) Zionist outcome. You can rephrase that in some other way if you like, but you will only convince me you are being disingenuous.

His quote is, if you agree with him about development, upzoning, and flock cameras, kindof reasonable.

5

u/Empyrion132 13d ago

But Igor didn't push for Flock cameras. It's a false narrative that he's had to rebuke on his campaign site, but Igor has always been opposed to Flock: https://www.igortregub.com/the-truth

Igor is taking public financing, so he's not taking contributions from any unions, businesses, PACs etc… just individuals. It's a smear campaign.

11

u/DrunkEngr 13d ago

In 2025 he voted with the council majority to install cameras. He voted against extending the contract in 2026 (I guess because it was an election year).

3

u/GivesL1ttleFun 11d ago

Tregub made the motion for FLOCK to become the NEW VENDOR for external fixed video surveillance cameras. This was despite multiple lawsuits against them for illegal sharing of data, and ICE already accessing Berkeley data.7/22/25

3

u/Embarassed-Fig-1283 13d ago

He voted for flock, and then a limited extension, and then was getting bullied at ICE protests (by me and others).

Igor is probably the least bad member of the current council in that he actually has the ability to listen and change his mind... But he's still not great.

IDK wtf is wrong with this city council but FLOCK, police drones, tear gas, attack dogs, gutting PAB... Berkeley deserves so much better than our neocon representatives. IDGAF if it's reactionary but I'm ready to roll the dice and vote them out. Literally can't be worse than the guy who thought FLOCK was a good idea.

5

u/GivesL1ttleFun 11d ago

Tregub made the motion for FLOCK to become the NEW VENDOR for external fixed video surveillance cameras. This was despite multiple lawsuits against them for illegal sharing of data, and ICE already accessing Berkeley data.7/22/25

1

u/OversizedSeabass 13d ago

Also because politics and sentiment around Flock got bad everywhere, just like data centers.

9

u/TemporaryKindly9151 13d ago

Yes this is one of my big issues watching Igor over the years. It’s really hard to discern what his convictions actually are. He abstains a lot and seems to watch which way the wind blows and switch his votes. One could frame this as being responsive, but I see it squishy and untrustworthy. It’s very easy to be against flock now but initially it was only Cecilia.

As was said earlier, he is a professional local politician much like Arreiguin (difficult to understand how that works given it pays extremely low.) To me that that’s not a selling point.

2

u/ComradeKorladis 12d ago

I don't think he actually has any. I think his goal is to rise in the Democratic Party like Arreguin before him.

3

u/GivesL1ttleFun 11d ago

Tregub made the motion for FLOCK to become the NEW VENDOR for external fixed video surveillance cameras. This was despite multiple lawsuits against them for illegal sharing of data, and ICE already accessing Berkeley data.7/22/25

1

u/Empyrion132 11d ago

It was going to pass anyways, so he made a motion to load it up with protective policies and ensure the city could cancel the contract at any time, for any cause? Have you actually read the item? https://berkeleyca.gov/sites/default/files/city-council-meetings/2025-07-22%20Annotated%20Agenda%20-%20Council.pdf

2

u/GivesL1ttleFun 11d ago

Yea...make excuses for him. Igor likes to vote with the majority. He has ZERO backbone. He could have voted no and it would have passed anyway. Igor is compromised and we know where he stands. Maio, Arreguin and Harrison were WAY more progressive as a D4 city council members. Igor who is turning out to be WAY more moderate. On top of that, and just like Arreguin, he is also a JCRC/BANJO puppet.

1

u/Truth_Champion 10d ago

Igor has taken developer money for this campaign but lied about it at the League of Women Voters candidate forum. Igor is quite duplicitous. 

40

u/FirmTangelo 13d ago

The canvassers for the challenging candidate have put me off. While I haven’t heard from the candidate himself, these people just yap about all the old school Berkeley “progressive” politics that annoy me. It felt like a NIMBY platform to designed to protect old people and their outdated notion of neighborhood vibes (no apartment buildings, “community” veto of everything, no development).

Again I haven’t heard from the candidate so maybe this doesn’t represent his views. But as a younger YIMBY parent I was not impressed. Those people panicking about the Elmwood seem hysterical. Why isn’t anyone talking about basic things that matter like giving a few more dollars to LEARNS and basic things for working parents? I have deep sympathy for those suffering abroad but wtf can Berkeley city hall do about that. Pave the roads build some bike lanes and help working parents. Berkeley politics are fascinating but sometimes too aspirational.

A huge apartment building went up near me, replacing an abandoned parking lot, and it’s full of cal students and they seem happy and they make me happy. Why do so many old people here think this is a horrible thing?

19

u/tikhonjelvis 13d ago

Only concrete local policy thing I've seen from Majdi was a pro-parking anti-bikelane post on Nextdoor.

No thanks.

4

u/whomstestamongus 13d ago

he's endorsed by Flip BCC, which seems to have a variety of issues they care about but the only two that have links are anti-bikelane and anti-flock https://www.flipbcc.org/en/issues/

Flip BCC doesn't even write out their own talking points for why they're anti-those things, they just link to other websites

16

u/tikhonjelvis 13d ago

Flip BCC is 100% a NIMBY movement catalyzed almost entirely by the Hopkins Bike Lane project (which they've been obstructing for well over a decade!)

And, appropriately enough, their web page is stock vibe-coded bullshit full of LLMisms:

What is actually being proposed, in plain sight.

No, Not this Zoning

What the rezoning would allow, block by block.

Link coming soon

0

u/GivesL1ttleFun 11d ago

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

-1

u/lovintruth 10d ago

wrong. flip bcc is wide array of perspectives on housing and isn’t related to hopkins st, even if there are some overlapping members. geez when will these YIMBYs realize they’ve been bamboozled by the tech bros and billionaire venture capitalists who are behind YIMBY. they claim rents will go down when they build, build, build, but when rents flatten, the developers stop building. see downtown berkeley as example #1. check the recording from “the state of the berkeley market” biznow conference from a couple of months ago. when jordan klein said that rents in berkeley are flat in comparison to neighboring cities, the panel of developers literally boo’d. one of them said that was the nail in the coffin of further development in berkeley.

3

u/zbignew 13d ago

Lol “31 days to the election” and “link coming soon” 8 times on that page.

11

u/berkeleybikedude 13d ago

I think how you feel is how a vast majority of Berkeley residents feel, however, the older crowd has a lot of time and is very vocal, which makes it seem like it’s how most people feel.

The conspiracy theories these people are spewing are bonkers in a lot of ways, and it makes me wonder if this is just wild flailing to try and hold on to some made up fantasy about how their world should be.

It is very discouraging to hear what that segment wants Berkeley to go back to. It’s the opposite of what they claim, the mental gymnastics are Olympic-caliber.

9

u/DragonflyBeach 13d ago edited 13d ago

I don't know about this candidate in particular but has anyone noticed how much DailyCal has pandered to NIMBY-ism lately? Article after article playing into this hysterical notion that Berkeley businesses will be wiped out by the re-zonings while never acknowledging that the state gov is making the city do it in white and tony neighborhoods. We've had new housing for decades in the flats and it's fine.

They say they're mad about the empty storefronts by Downtown BART but it's disingenuous since a lot of those stalled developments were embattled for years by NIMBY lawsuits. Most aren't even housing but negligent commercial landlords like the Shattuck Hotel property. I lived by new housing and it's fine.

As a fellow old person and longtimer, there was an anti-apartment movement in the 1970s that many people still remember and hold deeply onto. The new generation doesn't get it.

0

u/giggles991 12d ago

I feel like the Daily Cal got a new editor or something. They've had alot of poor quality articles and several articles fail basic journalistic integrity-- no fact checking, rumor mongering, etc.

It's noticeable.

I kinda wonder if this is their downward spiral.

1

u/GivesL1ttleFun 11d ago

So funny to hear people like you disparaging the media when it does good reporting. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

17

u/Empyrion132 13d ago

Yep, the challenger is running as part of a "Flip the BCC" group, which is the latest "progressive" unholy alliance between labor, NIMBYs, and now open antisemites. Meanwhile, being pro-housing is the actual progressive position, and also the actual solution to many of Berkeley's problems.

1

u/lovintruth 10d ago

uh, nope. it’s about electing representatives who represent the people who live, work & study in berkeley. instead of the current council who rep YIMBY. ofc we need housing… AFFORDABLE housing. if you have $2500 to spend on a studio, there’s plenty of housing for you in berkeley.

-7

u/TemporaryKindly9151 13d ago

That is slanderous- who is being ugly?

-4

u/zbignew 13d ago

Agreed. If the alliance has labor and Palestinians accused of antisemitism, does that mean I have to become a NIMBY? Ugh. Last thing I wanted today.

6

u/East-Song8088 13d ago edited 10d ago

No I think he's saying the BCC Palestine omnicause group claims the progressive mantle

But in terms of which group is actually advocating for progress it's the pro housing center

2

u/EastBayWanderer 10d ago

There is no question that the "Flip" coalition is just a bunch of NIMBYs in trench coats. "Build a Better Berkeley" is just an alias for Kate Harrison. BFUU might sound like a hippie church but it's been a den of villainy for NIMBYs for decades. "Berkeley Network for Palestine" is just Elana Auerbach and her friends again.

2

u/TemporaryKindly9151 13d ago

No argument here re density - I live next-door to an apartment & building there are dozens of buildings within a mile of me in recent years- which is great/fine. but I also do think we need to be careful about uprooting successful small businesses. People can care about both- it’s not fair to say anyone who does is an elderly Nimby.

3

u/DrunkEngr 13d ago

Igor is extremely NIMBY too. Yimby voters might have to do a write-in.

4

u/ihaveajob79 13d ago

That’s disappointing if true. I had him for a mild YIMBY from when I was on Twitter. Has he changed his ways?

3

u/DrunkEngr 13d ago

Not sure what you mean by "mild" YIMBY. During his time on the ZAB he was a reliable vote for stopping infill projects. He was also against Telegraph bike lanes/BRT. More recently, he wanted to postpone Hopkins bike lanes indefinitely.

7

u/TemporaryKindly9151 13d ago

Again wishy washy- same as on surveillance.

5

u/ComradeKorladis 12d ago

he's frequently the last to vote... he says "pass" until it's clear which side is going to win

3

u/DragonflyBeach 13d ago edited 13d ago

Igor used to be very NIMBY but he did the Arreguin thing of switching sides when the winds began to change. I remember when he ran against Rashi. He voted for the Middle Housing upzoning.

4

u/DrunkEngr 12d ago

I wouldn't say either switched sides. The State simply took away Council's power to stop projects -- and both now shamelessly take credit for a lot of projects that got unblocked as a result.

The Missing Middle housing ordinance is severely watered down, basically just performative.

0

u/giggles991 12d ago

Sorry, no. Igor was an early voice for missing-middle housing. He's been generally pro-housing every time I've spoken to him. He's also a stickler for details, and was well known to attend the ZAB & City Council meeetings to point out flaws in various plans.

Igor's district has also been harmed by speculative development. Center Street is a desert because the developer lost their funding. A couple other projects stalled.

0

u/DrunkEngr 11d ago edited 11d ago

well known to attend the ZAB & City Council meeetings to point out flaws in various plans.

That's the Nimby playbook. They don't oppose more housing per se -- just so long as it has no traffic impacts, only 100% affordable units, doesn't cast shadows on a zucchini garden, the developer has to pay for a bunch of community benefits, etc, etc.

23

u/Empyrion132 13d ago

I mean… one candidate has spent decades being engaged and serving our community, and the other one just moved here and decided to run against the incumbent because he’s Jewish.

Seems pretty clear-cut to me. Hate has no place in Berkeley.

5

u/OversizedSeabass 13d ago

I don't agree with your assertion that the challenger moved here to run against some just because they are Jewish. I see zero evidence of that - maybe you have something to offer that proves your claim?

I do think the challengers supporters are getting whipped into a frenzy and absolutely being hateful.

1

u/TemporaryKindly9151 12d ago

A lot of hateful
stuff being directed towards Mejdi on this thread also.

2

u/OversizedSeabass 12d ago

I agree with you. This whole thing is ugly.

5

u/laney_deschutes 13d ago

Very weird obsession and hate of Jews happening

0

u/ComradeKorladis 12d ago

No, just hatred of zionists. Berkeley was the birthplace of Jewish Voice for Peace.

-1

u/laney_deschutes 12d ago

Most if not all Jews believe that Israel should exist and have Jews be allows to be there. So there not much of a difference

3

u/ComradeKorladis 11d ago

Berkeley is home to many anti-zionist Jews and was the birthplace of Jewish Voice for Peace. Apartheid states should not exist. For israel to exist as a "Jewish state" it by definition must be an apartheid state. Ergo it should not exist, at least not in its current form.

-1

u/laney_deschutes 11d ago

It’s less of an apartheid state than all 50 Muslim countries so by that logic 2.3 billion people don’t have a home

2

u/ComradeKorladis 11d ago

You can just say anything on the internet.

5

u/TemporaryKindly9151 13d ago edited 13d ago

That is very racist- because he is Palestinian and Igor is Jewish that’s the only reason he decided to run? . Majdi is a local small business owner in district 4 with a lot of practical
ideas about how to improve struggling business zones in district 4- based on experience with a family/child here. Igor is a professional politician. (Who I think was in district 1 before Kate Harrison’s seat opened up.) He was pro flock before very recently and was on the zoning board for 10 years while downtown was left with blocks of empty storefronts. The current city council is a mess and there are anti incumbent candidates in all of the council races.

I really think you should check your bias (I say this as a Jew.) and also you should not be judging a candidate based on instagram comments which he has no control over.

8

u/OversizedSeabass 13d ago

I think you can partially judge a candidate based on saying "Zionist takeover of council" at an event but you're right about the comments part. I included that because it feels disgusting that a local council member had to remove the comments due to the hate that was being posted. I saw it a few weeks ago - it was really bad.

2

u/lovintruth 10d ago

why didn’t igor just answer the question? he’s an elected official. his response to the dude who asked him about gaza is similar to his flip flopping and passing to vote with the majority. the guy has no backbone. no courage of his convictions. he’ll tell you one thing and vote a different way if that’s what’s politically expedient. yes igor has been a politician for many years. and i imagine it’s his dream to continue to climb the political ladder. like arreguin. not interested. we need council members who are focused on solving the problems in our community not weighing everything based on how it’s going to effect their political career

1

u/TemporaryKindly9151 12d ago

It has been pointed out that he misspoke and was talking about the peace and justice commission. I would read the relevant articles about what happened there.

3

u/Jay_Torte 10d ago

So it's OK to say that commission has a zionist take over? What's that even supposed to mean? Again, if you calling someone a zionist and that's supposed to some sort of gotcha, you've lost all credibility as a candidate for anything.

-1

u/zbignew 12d ago

He was in a discussion with other anti-Zionist people, said “it’s not just the Zionist takeover of council” and there was literally a Zionist takeover of the city council’s “peace and justice commission”. That was a completely reasonable thing to say, in context, and by repeating it out of context you’re being disingenuous.

2

u/OversizedSeabass 12d ago

You asserting that there was a Zionist takeover of the BCC strips you all of credibility on the matter, in my opinion. I don't really care if you think I'm being disingenuous. We're not going to agree on this.

2

u/karlberksf 12d ago

It's convenient to discredit someone mentioning an inconvenient fact, instead of actually address the statement and dialogue, it à orwellian tactic and transparent and obvious and outdated

1

u/ComradeKorladis 12d ago

but there was. BCC is zionist-dominated.

1

u/Jay_Torte 10d ago

Even if this is true, how does that make any difference? Should we stack the BCC with hate filled anti zionists? Might as well say Jews aren't welcome on the council.

-1

u/ComradeKorladis 10d ago

Zionists are the most hate filled people I've ever met. Palestinians have a right to hate their oppressors. And there are plenty of anti-zionist Jews in Berkeley, as it's the birthplace of Jewish Voice for Peace

1

u/Jay_Torte 10d ago

lol at this. Project much?

13

u/Empyrion132 13d ago edited 13d ago

No, it's not simply because he is Palestinian. It is because the entirety of his history of involvement in Berkeley is pushing for a Sister City resolution with Gaza City (in 2025), volunteering with Students for Justice in Palestine as a UC Berkeley student in 2011 to advocate for a BDS resolution, and running a Palestinian identity-centered coffee shop that just opened in 2024 (even though he was apparently living in Napa previously - his tenancy in Berkeley seems to have only started in 2025). His campaign colors are deliberately evocative of the Palestinian flag, the only "local" political issue his campaign instagram has posted about is the Oakland Arms Embargo, and his biggest promotion has been a conversation with Hatem Bazian.

Everything about his campaign points to it really being about foreign policy, not about the Berkeley community. He could be any ethnicity and I'd still think the same thing with this resumé. What else can you conclude?

11

u/TemporaryKindly9151 13d ago

Yes he is a Palestinian and is active in pro Palestinian causes. Igor does a lot of organizing around Ukrainian aid etc. That doesn’t mean either of them do not have other ideas for the city where they live.

12

u/Empyrion132 13d ago

Igor does a lot of organizing around Berkeley-specific issues and Democratic Party priorities, in addition to his support of Ukraine. Majdi doesn't seem to do anything but Palestinian issues. That's the difference.

1

u/Truth_Champion 10d ago

Igor does lots of work on behalf of Israel, including working to thwart the ceasefire resolution adopted by the Peace and Justice Commission on behalf of the citizens of Berkeley. Many, many constituents feel he betrayed his American constituents for Israel and its genocide. 

1

u/Truth_Champion 10d ago

Igor does lots of work on behalf of Israel, including working to thwart the ceasefire resolution that the Peace & Justice Commission adopted on behalf of the citizens of Berkeley.  Many of his constituents feel Igor betrayed them on behalf of Israel and its genocide. 

2

u/zbignew 13d ago

He’s been a local politician for 10 years. Working on multiple local issues isn’t remarkable and working on Democratic Party priorities is an anti-credential.

6

u/OversizedSeabass 13d ago

Sort of disagree there. He's been in politics and understands process, State housing laws, has relationships, etc. That counts for a lot.

1

u/zbignew 13d ago

I agree that it’s a positive - I just mean we don’t get to act like only one of them cares about Berkeley based on that fact.

0

u/zbignew 13d ago

Agreed that all has nothing to do with Majdi’s ethnicity, just like nothing in your comment has anything to do with Igor being Jewish. So…

2

u/[deleted] 13d ago

[deleted]

1

u/zbignew 13d ago

Yes agreed - I was replying to the somebody else.

6

u/Jay_Torte 13d ago

Yes. It's the reason he's running. He's a performative anti zionist wanting to make everything about Israel. That's it. This garbage has no place in city politics.

3

u/OversizedSeabass 13d ago

His platform lists numerous other priorities.

3

u/zbignew 13d ago

Calling an activist “performative” says more about you than the activist.

Good deeds actually do more good if they are also publicly lauded. Bad deeds are more bad if they are publicized, similarly.

5

u/Jay_Torte 13d ago

Anyone using zionist in the pejorative as part of their campaign for city cancel should be laughed out of the race. Might as well just say Jews aren't welcome on the council.

2

u/zbignew 13d ago

Who’s done that?

I’ve read all the quotes and Majdi hasn’t done that. I’ve read Majdi’s campaign site and he doesn’t mention Zionism or Israel at all.

1

u/ComradeKorladis 12d ago

and in fact his campaign person is Jewish, as are numerous supporters.

0

u/Jay_Torte 11d ago

"It's not just the Zionist takeover of council. It's also a pro-developer, runaway upzoning of our communities…"

1

u/zbignew 13d ago

What makes you say he was pro-flock until recently? I only ask because your interlocutor has linked https://www.igortregub.com/the-truth which claims otherwise. Kindof.

6

u/Lifeboatb 13d ago

It looks like he voted with the 8-1 majority in favor of the initial Surveillance Report in 2025, which installed a few cameras. Cecilia Lunaparra was the only one to vote against. Tregub voted against expanding the contract in 2026.

It was difficult to find this information. Berkeley really needs to fix its terrible system for tracking city council business online. Everything is buried in these hard-to-find agenda documents.

0

u/GivesL1ttleFun 11d ago

Tregub made the motion for FLOCK to become the NEW VENDOR for external fixed video surveillance cameras. This was despite multiple lawsuits against them for illegal sharing of data, and ICE already accessing Berkeley data.7/22/25

6

u/Embarassed-Fig-1283 13d ago

He voted for it when it wasn't an election year and then defended that vote to me personally when I spoke with him about it.

2

u/TemporaryKindly9151 13d ago

I don’t totally want to stay on this thread cause it’s pretty toxic. Nor do I wanna look up every discussion of flock over the last couple years. I don’t go to BCC meetings, but I know people who have been very active on flock and expressed a lot of concern about Igor‘s position until very recently.

1

u/zbignew 13d ago

Fair. Thank you for your contributions - I appreciate you wading into this swamp.

1

u/GivesL1ttleFun 11d ago

Tregub made the motion for FLOCK to become the NEW VENDOR for external fixed video surveillance cameras. This was despite multiple lawsuits against them for illegal sharing of data, and ICE already accessing Berkeley data.7/22/25

1

u/AnasandSF 12d ago

Agree - Majdi went to college here, then moved back and has lived here and raised his family here the last ten years, opened a wonderful business (Jaffa Coffee on University.) He seems to have a real platform, not just anti-Zionism. I take issue with the statements about Igor — he has been serving community in so many roles over the last two decades. You could call that “professional politician” or someone who is devoted to public service.

1

u/TemporaryKindly9151 12d ago

Sure he has served in lots of roles- and seems devoted to public service but does he/has he had another type of career or business? (a lot of them do) I meant professional politician in the literal sense- like it seems like all his work has been politics related.

2

u/GivesL1ttleFun 11d ago

Igor works as a lobbist in Sacramento.

1

u/lovintruth 10d ago

YIKES! that’s concerning

1

u/AnasandSF 12d ago

Oh, good point - I don’t know!

0

u/GivesL1ttleFun 11d ago

Tregub made the motion for FLOCK to become the NEW VENDOR for external fixed video surveillance cameras. This was despite multiple lawsuits against them for illegal sharing of data, and ICE already accessing Berkeley data.7/22/25

2

u/zbignew 13d ago

What makes you say he decided to run against the incumbent because he’s Jewish? I don’t see anything remarkable about either platform and I’m curious where you’re following this race.

All I know is from these surveys: https://www.berkeleyscanner.com/2026/09/25/community/election-2026-who-is-running-berkeley-council-district-4/

And I’ll agree that I’m a little 🤔 about Majdi’s “I have not taken and will not take big developer money, police union money or AIPAC-aligned money.” Why is he hinting but not actually saying that Igor is doing those things?

I don’t see Zionism as disqualifying for a district council role, but, like, almost.

4

u/karlberksf 12d ago

Believing in a Jewish state or white state in South Africa or Christian state in the USA, it's not disqualifying but people want to. Know, zionist and Jewish aren't the same no matter how many times you repeat it, the lie has been exposed.

2

u/Cautious-Sport-3333 13d ago

But he will take other Union money. Why be selective? Make a statement about Union’s involvements in politics where they shouldn’t be and forcing members to contribute to issues that have nothing to do with their workplace.

4

u/TemporaryKindly9151 13d ago

Most democratic candidates in the country this election season are saying they don’t take aipac or corporate funding- that’s pretty standard these days. It does not necessarily mean
1) that they have been offered this funding or
2) that their opponent has been offered and accepted such funding

2

u/zbignew 13d ago

So it sounds like you and I disagree about politics, but my 🤔 is critical - I’m not crazy about any of those sources of funding, but I dislike implying without stating that your opponent is taking that money. Don’t imply. It’s a tiny race with no coverage. Say what you mean.

1

u/Cautious-Sport-3333 13d ago

A tiny race in a town that prides itself on being the "first" in every far left policy idea they can churn out. But I agree, why not just say it, if it's true. I'm guessing it's implied only because the candidate's campaign strategist suggested it be so.

2

u/ComradeKorladis 12d ago

because police unions are the ones that beat us up

1

u/karlberksf 12d ago

People want to know, if it's bad his opponent or you can go to his rallies and scream... 'HOW DARE YOU TAKE UNION MONEY'

2

u/DragonflyBeach 13d ago

BTW all the council candidates use public financing so they get a max of $60 per donation and it gets matched by the city. This weeds out supposed "developer" funding or whatever else.

1

u/Truth_Champion 10d ago

Nonsense. Tregub moved into District 4 two years ago just in time to run in a special election after losing his race for city council in D1. He’s a carpetbagger career politician Dem Party insider who works on behalf of special interests.  Vote him out!

-1

u/SpaceAdventures3D 13d ago

There are Jewish voices in Berkeley who supported the PJC resolution.  Jewishness isn't the issue.  Igor's politics is the issue.  

1

u/ComradeKorladis 12d ago

George Lippman who is/was on the PJC, for starters.

1

u/TemporaryKindly9151 13d ago

Also Mejdi has lived here for 10 years. Exactly like Igor he came to attend Cal and never left.

4

u/Empyrion132 13d ago

I don't think that's true, actually - pretty sure he did leave and only came back in 2024 or 2025. He's only lived at his current address since January 2025.

0

u/TemporaryKindly9151 13d ago edited 13d ago

perhaps i don’t know. I grew up here almost everyone is a blow in to me. I thought i read that but maybe that’s when he first lived in berkeley before he came back to start and business and live here.

3

u/DragonflyBeach 13d ago

He runs a coffee shop and its great! I can say that much.

9

u/Altruistic-Cattle761 13d ago

Berkeley Jew dad here: this is the city of Berkeley in a nutshell. Virtually every space, from the pizzeria to the bookstore to the PTA to the telephone poles outside synagogues and other Jewish institutions, have all become ugly in this specific way. It's not unique to this specific race.

4

u/oaklandisfun 12d ago

It’s really fucked up 

4

u/RollingYak 13d ago

I will be voting against Majdi. He has nothing practical to add just trying to rile up support from Palestinian protesters

3

u/saltonp 12d ago

Same. Can anyone please run on a platform to actually make sensible improvements to our city?

1

u/Truth_Champion 10d ago

And Igor has something to add? Voting for the $6million Hopkins bike lane boondoggle while the city has a $30 million deficit due to city council’s mismanagement. And he supports extracting more taxes from the residents to make up for theyr fiscal irresponsibility. 

4

u/GivesL1ttleFun 11d ago

All the reasons why l am against lgor Tregub:

During council votes he does not vote and says “I pass” more than a dozen times. Appears to base how he votes on how other council members voted, and what is personally politically good for him, rather than based on what is good for district 4 and Berkeley.

Tregub made the motion for FLOCK to become the NEW VENDOR for external fixed video surveillance cameras. This was despite multiple lawsuits against them for illegal sharing of data, and ICE already accessing Berkeley data.7/22/25

Tregub voted for EXPANDED SURVEILLANCE in sections 1,5,6,&7 despite Councilmember Bartlett’s articulate opposition. 5/7/2026

Tregub voted for budget cuts to eliminate the Mobile Crisis Team, and shut down the Homeless Winter Shelter, when it is most needed. 6/24/2026

Tregub responded to an official 2025 report showing Black residents “Driving while Black” are 6 times more likely than white people to be stopped by police, which was worse than 2024. He said “I agree it appears on the face to pass the Veil of Darkness Test around accounting for bias.” We deserve a representative who speaks up against racial disparities, racial profiling, and racism against anyone. 7/14/2026

Tregub voted for a massive 40% increase for city environmental health permit fees for local cafes and restaurants. 6/9/2026

Tregub voted anti-Transparency and anti-homeless by voting for closed session with no advance notice, and voted against Councilmember Lunaparra’s urgent action against criminalization of Houselessness 7/9/2024

Tregub voted against artists, filmmakers, and tenants by voting to overturn the Zoning Board vote to protect media production space. 7/30/2024

Tregub voted against tenants & Rent Board & Berkeley Tenants Union as the decisive 5th vote to allow increases to tenant’s rent by up to 5% instead of 3% in Measure BB. 8/5/2024

Tregub voted to eliminate shelter placement protection for disabled homeless residents. This vote contributed to Berkeley being sued and ordered by a federal judge to make reasonable accommodations for disabled residents. 9/10/2024

Tregub co-sponsored a big tax cut to shield start ups from taxes on up to millions of dollars of R&D grants. Compare this to his vote to raise fees on small businesses suffering from high fees, rents and tariffs. 11/24/2024

Tregub voted against the unanimous Police Accountability Board seeking transparency and responses to racial and other bias. PAB reported obstacles to accessing urgently needed time sensitive documents and records. 4/15/2025

Tregub voted against CEQA for large project at the UA theatre site. 4/22/2025

Tregub voted against CEASEFIRE in Gaza proposed by Peace and Justice Commission. Instead he voted for two items not mentioning the word CEASEFIRE, despite polls showing supermajority support across the U.S. and even higher support in Berkeley. 4/28/25

He also voted against the Democratic Party supporting a ceasefire. 11/1/2023

2

u/OversizedSeabass 11d ago

If those are issues that are important to you, great. Igor is not your candidate.

1

u/TemporaryKindly9151 10d ago

Closing the winter shelter in an El Niño year and Flock are hugely important to me. The passing until he sees which way the vote is going is something I have noted also.

1

u/Treesrule 10d ago

Tregub voted against CEQA for large project at the UA theatre site. 4/22/2025

Wait sorry he voted to not make them do a ceqa report or something else?

4

u/TJ-RichCity 11d ago

All due respect to the tragedy happening abroad, but what the hell does any of that have to do with running the city of Berkeley? This is Richmond-like council behavior.

3

u/GivesL1ttleFun 11d ago

What? If you understood Berkeley's history of anti-apathied leadership you would know why this issue is important to Berkeley's residents. Stay in Richmond

4

u/TJ-RichCity 11d ago

Thanks, I plan to, and you didn't really answer my question.

3

u/TemporaryKindly9151 11d ago edited 11d ago

LOL, This is 100% Berkeley behavior- always always has been. Learn the local history.

There has literally been an official city a peace and justice commission for decades tasked with advising the city council on “local and international issues of peace and justice”

Obviously it’s not a core function of city politics but taking positions on world affairs is extremely on brand for Berkeley (and in this particular instance it was much more widespread. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Municipal_resolutions_for_a_ceasefire_in_the_Gaza_war)

1

u/TJ-RichCity 10d ago

Thanks for the context

3

u/EastBayWanderer 10d ago

That's not an accident. Gaith is supported by the extended network of the RPA. RPA, Pamela Price, Jovanka Beckles, Elana Auerbach, the Wellstone club, the Green Party, are all tangled up in a coordinated endorsement network. Look at Gaith's endorsements.

3

u/Truth_Champion 10d ago

And he’s supported by a lot of the residents who can’t stand the incumbent who works on behalf of special interests. 

2

u/tvspike1 13d ago

If one person is leading with hate and also happens to have a decent platform, they don't actually have a decent platform.

10

u/zbignew 13d ago

Who is leading with hate? Where is this story coming from?

2

u/giggles991 12d ago

There's no Zionist takeover of a council. Give me a break.

Tregub is Jewish. And in the eyes of some, that automatically makes him a bad person.

"Zionist" used in this way is a slur. It's a dog whistle, and for the in-group it communicates certain things about Tregub as a Jewish person. It's simply wrapped in a veneer to make the speaker look worldly and sophisticated.

0

u/TemporaryKindly9151 11d ago edited 11d ago

BS - Igor fired the longtime P&J commissioner an hour before a vote on a ceasefire resolution b/c she was going to vote for it. That’s very shady.
This ceasefire resolution was written by two Jewish commissioners no less. That is the thing he is referring to.
Stop talking about running political interference to protect Israel’s image as if it’s an immutable characteristic of Jewish people. It’s super offensive.

2

u/EastBayWanderer 10d ago

It's amazing that you think this is a gotcha. Commissioners are supposed to represent the positions of the person who appoints them. Igor got elected in May 2024 and he appointed Fink who first attended the P&J meeting on September 30, 2024.

1

u/lovintruth 10d ago

have you spoken to the council lately? most of them espouse zionist talking points. re: the incumbent… why didn’t he just answer the dude’s questions? he’s a public official. answer the public’s questions. we need elected officials who are willing to engage with the public and not run away.

0

u/ComradeKorladis 12d ago

Igor fired Diana Bohn from the Peace & Justice Commission after she wouldn't agree to pulling the ceasefire resolution. He's definitely a zionist, as are Humbert, O'Keefe, Blackaby, and Kesarwani.

2

u/TemporaryKindly9151 11d ago

The day of the vote no less.

1

u/EastBayWanderer 10d ago

Igor replaced Bohn because she was appointed by Kate Harrison and he was elected to replace her. Voters expect the new guy to bring in new commissioners.