[Berkeley] Business Owners React to Marine Corps Vote

The Daily Californian ^ | February 5, 2008 | Amy Brooks

[2ndDivisionVet]

Some Berkeley business owners say they have received such a negative response from the recent City Council resolutions against the Marine Corps recruiting center in Downtown Berkeley that they may withhold city taxes in protest.

Last week the council declared that the center was "unwelcome" in Berkeley and sought to aide Code Pink, a group that organizes regular protests outside the center, by reserving a parking space for the group in front of the center, among other actions.

Since then, the resolutions have elicited a nationwide response. Last Thursday, United States Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., said he would attempt to remove funding for programs in the Berkeley area to protest the council's actions.

Ted Garrett, the CEO of the Berkeley Chamber of Commerce, said he had received at least 140 e-mails from people who said they would not do business in Berkeley in response to the council's resolutions.

"Most are threatening to never set foot in Berkeley and never have anything to do with businesses in Berkeley," he said. "I know of at least one instance now where an innkeeper has reported that one visitor has cancelled their reservation because of the council's actions."

Councilmember Darryl Moore said some of the complaints may have come from people who never planned on visiting Berkeley in the first place.

"Those people don't live anywhere near Berkeley and who's to say that they were coming to Berkeley to begin with?" he said. "I just think it would be unfortunate if the chamber did some sort of knee-jerk reaction to all of this."

At a meeting of the chamber's Government Affairs committee yesterday, some members discussed a plan to withhold business license taxes to protest the resolutions' effects on their business.

A formal plan to withhold taxes would require the approval of the chamber's executive committee or board of directors.

But Carolyn Henry Golphin, the immediate past chair of the chamber's board, said withholding taxes should only be a last resort.

"We have to do what we have to do," she said. "We do need to make a stand together if that's what we all agree on."

Liz Stevens, broker and owner of Windermere Real Estate in Berkeley, said the current controversy was part of a larger problem.

"The city has a good way of keeping people at arms length and making decisions that affect them at the same time," she said.

Mark McLeod, a member of the chamber's board and president of the Downtown Berkeley Association, said he agreed that the council should have considered the implications of its actions before voting for the resolutions.

"The council can't operate as an isolated unit-the university, council and chamber have to realize they're all members of a large, complex community and have to act with a realization of the effect of their actions on all members of the community," he said.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Hahahaha! Keep calling, e-mailing, faxing and writing these people. It seems to be working! Semper Fi!

[Puppage]

"Most are threatening to never set foot in Berkeley and never have anything to do with businesses in Berkeley," he said. "I know of at least one instance now where an innkeeper has reported that one visitor has cancelled their reservation because of the council's actions."

Hit 'em where it hurts!!

[Slapshot68]

“Some Berkeley business owners say they have received such a negative response from the recent City Council resolutions against the Marine Corps recruiting center in Downtown Berkeley that they may withhold city taxes in protest.”

The funny thing is, the EXACT SAME THING happened when the Town of Berkeley decided to condemn our invasion of Afghanistan. The business dried up.

Apparently, the “enlightened” aren’t bright enough to learn from their mistakes.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Petition: “Berkeley CA should be federally de-funded”
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/cutoffberkeleynow?e

[aposiopetic]

Last week the council declared that the center was "unwelcome" in Berkeley and sought to aide

I guess "aide" is a verb at UC.

[Cindy]

[jazusamo]

Hahahaha! Keep calling, e-mailing, faxing and writing these people. It seems to be working! Semper Fi!

EXACTLY!!

[DoughtyOne]

I sent them an email today, so I have a hard time thinking they’ve on gotten 140 contacts on this issue.

[rbosque]

Idiot leftist freaks.

[Titan Magroyne]

In general, I’ve noticed that the ranks of first responders - police, firemen, EMTs - are often filled with veterans. I’ve been waiting to read of refusal of service from those fellas in the town of Berkely.

[2ndDivisionVet]

"I sent them an email today, so I have a hard time thinking they’ve on gotten 140 contacts on this issue."

Probably less than 1% of the e-mails they've actually received, would be my guess.

[BlueStateRefugee]

“Those people don’t live anywhere near Berkeley and who’s to say that they were coming to Berkeley to begin with?” he said. “I just think it would be unfortunate if the chamber did some sort of knee-jerk reaction to all of this.””

It’s funny to hear the Berkley City Council is concerned about “knee-jerk reactions”. I know where I would like to jerk my knee to some of them.

[Right Cal Gal]

I’d love to see a blue and red (for fire) sickout of one day in protest. Maybe Berkeley can ask for the National Guard in the interim.

Not only that, the majority of those who attend the Golden Bears’ football games come from out of town - alumni, etc. They patronize bars, restaurants, etc., and stay in local hotels for the bigger games. Football (and to some extent basketball) season makes a ton of money for the folks downtown.

Keeping this on the front burner will have come impact on Berkeley. Their antics are shameful.

[pillut48]

American Heritage Dictionary con·se·quence (kŏn'sĭ-kwěns', -kwəns) Pronunciation Key

n.

1. Something that logically or naturally follows from an action or condition. See Synonyms at effect.

2. The relation of a result to its cause.

3. A logical conclusion or inference.

4. Importance in rank or position: scientists of consequence.

5. Significance; importance: an issue of consequence. See Synonyms at importance.

[Right Cal Gal]

“Those people don’t live anywhere near Berkeley and who’s to say that they were coming to Berkeley to begin with?”

You’ll never know, will you Psychic Boy?

[SmithL]

The problem with your boycott is that they never notice ALL the different reasons that I avoid the place. My personal boycott started years ago, back when they broke their contract with the Boy Scouts. All of my subsequent boycotts have gone unnoticed.

[TexasCajun]

Here is the email address for the Berkley Chamber of Commerce:

assistant@berkeleychamber.com

If the Marines aren't welcome, then I will never do any business with those within Berkely city limits.

[NormsRevenge]

The council can’t operate as an isolated unit-the university, council and chamber have to realize they’re all members of a large, complex community and have to act with a realization of the effect of their actions on all members of the community,”

—

so, once they officially rescind the vote,, the question is,, what will they do next to further prove how disconnected they really are.

Until they kick Code Pink back across the bay, rescinding the vote means little, imo. They meant it then and they will still believe it afterward and act accordingly.

[Michael.SF.]

I sent them an email today, so I have a hard time thinking they’ve on gotten 140 contacts on this issue

Just to be certain: You sent your e-mail to the Chamber of Commerce?

I have seen many posts on this subject with various e-mail addresses for the Mayor, City Council etc. but never one for the Chamber of Commerce.

I think that is a great idea and I will take it a step further:

I have long boycotted Berkeley, just because they are lunatics, but if the C of C is successful in getting the City Council to back down on this issue, I will take my wife to dinner at a Berkeley restaurant (Skates on the Bay).