KYLE GARCIA TAKATA | SENIOR STAFF
AMBER X. CHEN | LEAD ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE BEAT REPORTER
SEPTEMBER 29, 2023 (DailyCal.org)
The “chess club,” a well-known community space on Telegraph Avenue, was cleared by the block’s property owner, with BPD on standby, following numerous trespassing allegations Friday morning.
The club, founded by Jesse Sheehan three years ago, quickly grew into a community staple where students and locals alike would congregate over a game of chess.
But the club was not without controversy, having a history of contention with the city of Berkeley over trespassing violations and proposed developments.
Prior to the clearing, the city had issued fines against the club for alleged trespassing. After a notice of violation was filed against the club in March, Sheehan had to remove chess tables from the sidewalk.
Despite this controversial past, Sheehan said he did not expect the extent to which all of the club’s personal property would be removed Friday, including its lockbox, chess sets, contact list, protest signs and a petition that had about 1,000 signatures in support of People’s Park.
While Sheehan alleged City Councilmember Rigel Robinson, who represents the district containing the chess club, was involved in the clearing, Robinson denied allegations of his involvement and noted that he was “unaware” of the clearing. In an email, Robinson explained that it was the property owner at 2454 Telegraph Ave. — where chess club is located — who removed the items, and that police officers were requested by the property owner to be on civil standby.
BPD spokesperson Jessica Perry corroborated Robinson’s statement, noting in an email that police officers did not shut down or “remove any belongings from the property.”
Robinson added there had been an active code enforcement case with regards to the property where the chess club is located, specifically about its use permit violations, and that the property owner had posted a “no trespassing” sign by the chess club prior to its removal.
However, Sheehan largely sees the trespassing fines as a guise to cover what he believes is the real issue at hand: The chess club’s staunch opposition against the gentrification of Telegraph Avenue and the development of People’s Park.
“This is very much representative of a lack of priorities, that a city would use public funds, police funds — in a city that is being ransacked by armed robberies and carjackings — to come and break up a chess club,” Sheehan said.
Sheehan and other chess club frequenters want the park to remain a neighborhood greenspace, and over the past year the club effectively became a hub for community mobilization against the proposed development of People’s Park as student housing.
Sheehan also emphasized the way in which the club’s majority Black chess players had been allegedly villainized by Telegraph Avenue developers, noting how the club had been accused of housing drug dealers.
As for plans to rebuild and reorganize the chess club, Sheehan said he had already been struggling to keep the club open for the past three years and currently does not have the means to replace his stolen property.
“It’s surprising and hurtful,” Sheehan said. “I’ve been in this community for about 13 years. Now we have the city … trying to tell seniors, people with disabilities, Black chess players, the neighborhood they can be in.”
