Aggregated News
Press Release: September 19, 2023
Contact: Jeremy Gruber, JD., jgruber@humanebiotech.org; (415) 483-9410
MASSIVE BIOLAB BOOM IN BERKELEY SPURS RESIDENTS, ALLIES TO LAUNCH: BIOLAB WATCH
In response to the enormous biolab boom in Berkeley, concerned citizens and civil society groups formed the information sharing network, Biolab Watch. There is no publicly available list of the many labs already built or now in the pipeline for construction. More conspicuous sites include two massive projects: the 8.67-acre aquatic park site in southwest Berkeley where building is well underway, and the 10+ acre biolab compound intended for northwest Berkeley. Both are near enough to shorelines to cause environmental hazards, and they abut residential neighborhoods, igniting questions about what biosafety precautions can be relied upon. There is widespread concern over the potential dire risks of infectious mishaps and leaks from biolabs that can endanger lab workers, the communities they work in, and beyond.
Today, Biolab Watch submitted a letter to Berkeley’s Mayor and City Council taking them to task over the lack of transparency or community involvement. The letter, signed by 73 local, regional...