from FRI 8:00 AM MST until FRI 7:00 PM MST, White Mountains, Northeast Plateaus and Mesas Hwy 264 Northward, Grand Canyon Country, Eastern Mogollon Rim, Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateau, Black Mesa Area, Western Mogollon Rim, Coconino Plateau, Kaibab Plateau, Little Colorado River Valley in Navajo County, Little Colorado River Valley in Apache County, Northeast Plateaus and Mesas South of Hwy 264, Chinle Valley, Little Colorado River Valley in Coconino County

Air Quality Alert

until FRI 9:00 PM MST, Yuma County

Berkeley bans gender-specific words from city code

By Amber Lee, KTVU

Published July 17, 2019 10:17pm MST

BERKELEY, Calif. (KTVU) - Berkeley City Council has voted to eliminate gender-specific words from its municipal code.

Some of the changes include the word, "manhole" that will now be "maintenance hole."

A bondsman will become a "bondsperson." And fireman officially becomes firefighter.

The list goes on with other examples, including craftsmen, which becomes artisans.

Heirs is changed to beneficiaries. Manpower will now be "human effort" and pregnant woman is now pregnant employee.

We found a mix of reactions to these changes.

"If it makes the city happy I guess they can go ahead. They can change it to maintenance hole. I'm sure it wouldn't hurt anybody," said Erin Davis of Berkley.

But not everyone was on the same page.

"No. Uh...I think it whoudl remain the same. Why change it?" said Athen Addison of Berkeley.

The changes also include pronouns instead of he or she. The word "they" will be used. Supporters say the language tweaks make Berkeley more inclusive.

City officials said the cost of the changes is $600.