[Berkeley] Business Owners React to Marine Corps Vote

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

[RobinOfKingston]

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.

Long term fix, these "businessmen" might want to think about how they vote in the next election.

[SueRae]

Nice bookmark, thanks!

[B4Ranch]

The only ex-military business owners in Berkeley are druggies and boozers who got kicked out of the service.

[Moose4]

IIRC there were two votes. One vote was for the resolution calling the Marines “unwelcome”; the other was, I believe, to allow Code Pink their special parking spot right in front of the recruiting office for their weekly protests. One of those votes was 8-1, and the other was 6-3. Wozniak was the only member of Council to vote “no” on both.

}:-)4

[antiRepublicrat]

Wozniak was the only member of Council to vote “no” on both.

Wozniak?! Oh, for a second there I thought The Woz was getting into politics.

[AFreeBird]

Boycotting Berkeley, may not be enough. The problem is systemic to Kalifornia as a whole.

Boycott Kalifornia business'

If they don't want to think that some yahoo from out of state will ever set foot in their area, perhaps the message to Arnie and the state, that we don't want anything to do with their screwed up thinking, might bring a little more local pressure to bear.

[DoughtyOne]

Same here.

[tsmith130]

If that’s the case, then Kriss W is misleading in his e-mail to kellynla.

[DoughtyOne]

You know, that did zoom right over my head.

I read Chamber of Commerce and it registered as the City Council.  Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...

Good point.  I don't think it helps for folks outside the area to contact the Chamber though.

[Michael.SF.]

Thanks. I have sent them an e-mail!

[DoughtyOne]

Good for you. It's good for those folks to know that their actions are known clear across the nation, and that we don't like it one bit.

[Michael.SF.]

I read Chamber of Commerce and it registered as the City Council

Easy enough to do! From your comment I suspected that may be the case. I did send a note to the C of C telling them I would dine in Berkeley if their efforts were successful. As my old boss use to say: Money walks and BS talks.

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks Michael. Good for you.

[kellynla]

I “think” there were two votes...but don’t hold me to that...

[sam_paine]

Why would the Marines want to be in Berzerkeley anyway? I really don’t get it.

[Michael.SF.]

Here is the response I received from the C of C:

Hi,
The Berkeley Chamber of Commerce supports our men and women in the armed forces. Your comments have been forwarded to the Berkeley City Council.

Please visit www.berkeleychamber.com to see our support.

Thanks for your comments.

On Feb 5, 2008, at 1:50 PM, Dennis L. wrote:

Dear Chamber of Commerce;

I wanted to drop you a note to say that I have a long standing tradition of avoiding Berkeley and it's many restaurants and other places of business. I chose to do this as my own small way of voicing my disagreement with the politics espoused by the majority of residents in the city.

I do wish to advise you that I will pledge to end my personal boycott if you are successful in two things:

1) Getting the City Council to rescind their position regarding the Marines

2) get the City Council to enforce the laws equally regarding protecting the Marines from the violent actions of such people as represented by Code Pink.

(Yes, chaining themselves to prevent others freedoms is a form of violence.)

Regards
Dennis L.

[nicmarlo]

bttt!

[pillut48]

May I just say I LOVE FREE REPUBLIC?!? :-)
No coverups allowed! Woot!

[Michael.SF.]

One thought springs to mind, an old Hollywood saying, I believe attributed to Mae West and probably others (paraphrasing):

"I don't care what the papers say, as long as they spell my name right."

Think of all the publicity this has generated. My guess is Marine recruiting is going up at this time.

[pillut48]

Nothing like donuts to solve a major political issue!! D’oh.