BOYCOTT BERKELEY (start of ping list;)

Drango | 2/16/08 | Drango

[freema]

Brian Dennard, I'd tell you I love you if only it wouldn't break so many hearts. ♥

[freema]

http://www.alhannah.com/niqab.html

Imagine that, a proactive solution instead of wanting to inflict suffering and ruin on someone else. I like it.

[stylin19a]

nice response, but where can I find where he said:
"the only group opposing the city counsels actions”.

[USMC Brat]

Powerful statement.

SALUTE!

Can you post, or refer us to, the letter Mr. Garret sent that prompted your reply? The only letter I’ve found from Garret in this thread is Post #38 by Drango.

[USMC Brat]

A search within the archives of the local "Berkeley Daily Planet" newspaper netted a couple of letters to the editor that are incriminating to Mayor Tom Bates. He conspired with Code Pink prior to the City Council actions on 1/29/08 to use his position to assist in their anti-war/anti-military protests.

The resulting action on 1/29/08 by the Berkeley City Council - Item 15 "Permit Wativer and Parking Space Designation Request for Code Pink." Mayor Bates delegated responsibility for his handi-work to Councilmembers Linda Maio & Max Anderson.

I realize this is a bit off-topic in this thread, but I thought some people here would be interested in these items.


EDITOR’S NOTE: The Planet is only printing letters from locals regarding the ruling on the Marine Recruitment Center. Signed letters from non-locals and letters addressed to third parties will be published on our website. Unsigned letters will not be published.


Letter to the Editor (1/25/08)
CODEPINK SPECIAL TREATMENT

Editors, Daily Planet:

I am responding to Cynthia Papermaster’s Jan. 11 letter to the editor regarding the meeting between CodePINK and Mayor Bates. Ms. Papermaster stated that Mayor Bates committed to taking three actions as a result of that meeting. It is my opinion that CodePINK is getting special treatment because of their cause. The first action the mayor apparently agreed to take was to assist the group in drafting a resolution for consideration by City Council. I ask, has the group bothered to attend any Peace and Justice (P&J) Commission meetings? The city’s website shows that there was a P&J meeting on Jan. 7, which included a status report on the Marine Recruitment Office (Section D, Item 8a.). In addition, aren’t there already resolutions regarding Iraq on the table? According to the letter, Mayor Bates also agreed to meet with the officer-in-charge of the Marine’s Officer Selection Office. To what end? What purpose does this serve? Thirdly, the mayor was asked to keep the police from doing their job, which is to keep the peace and cite individuals that are in violation of city ordinances. Having a large, loud group taking up a sidewalk is loitering, and blocking pedestrians from passing is a disturbance. Having a bus doubled parked, blocking car traffic, and parked at meters over the allotted time is an infraction—period.

Lastly, the mayor was asked to consider giving the group their own dedicated parking space in front of the recruitment office. Given the limited parking in Downtown Berkeley, I believe the spaces should be kept for people who have business to conduct in the area. Downtown businesses are struggling as is, and eliminating parking will have the adverse effect of keeping people away who would patronize downtown restaurants and businesses. Furthermore, if the mayor gives CodePINK its own parking space, it would set a precedent for other groups to receive a space in front of City Hall, the Police Department, or any business place of their choosing. Get a grip people! Just because you want to protest an organization located in Berkeley, doesn’t mean your cause is more deserving than any other. It doesn’t allow you to disturb the lives of Berkeley business patrons or residents. You have the right to be heard within the limits of the law. Your message is getting out! You don’t need local government to bend over backwards for you.

María Ryan


Letter to the Editor (1/11/08)
MARINE RECRUITMENT STATION

Editors, Daily Planet:

Mayor Tom Bates graciously met with CodePink Women for Peace Wednesday in front of the Marine Recruitment Station on Shattuck Square. CodePink wants the City of Berkeley to shut the center down because it recruits people to wage bloody war, against the values of Berkeley citizens. Mayor Bates committed to three actions as a result of the meeting: 1. to work with peace activists to draft a workable resolution or initiative that the City Council can consider, 2. to meet with the Marine Recruitment Center director, and 3. to ask the Berkeley police to stop harassing CodePinkers who are at the Center daily and to help CodePink get permission to have a parking space in front of the Center during the daily action. Readers who want tell Mayor Bates that they are against the Marines recruiting in Berkeley can e-mail, phone, or mail a letter to him: mayor@ci.berkeley.ca.us, 981-7100, 2180 Milvia Street, Berkeley, CA 94704.

Cynthia Papermaster

[MrEdd]

You’re proud of this? Is this how you normally act and come across? How terribly sad. You’ll be in my prayers, and you have my deepest sympathy.

You can spin it however you want, but you’re just all aflush at thought of causing strife and pain.

You'll forgive those of us who spent long periods of our lives living out under the stars or in 60 man squad bays if we don't think losing some money or a civilian job is a terrible tragedy. Do you carry on like this over everything? They did something distasteful. People who are disgusted by their behavior are giving them a consequence. Grow up.

[Melas]

They did something distasteful. People who are disgusted by their behavior are giving them a consequence. Grow up.

That's the problem. The who did something distasteful are unlikely to suffer any consequences as they all live in Peidmont, not Berkeley. Those apt to suffer most are those who live in working class Oakland not Berkely.

[MrEdd]

Not getting money from people who spend it elsewhere is not suffering. And having to get a different job is not suffering either. You seem to have a very melodramatic view of the world. You want to make things easier for these guys:

I am more concerned about people like these:

I have done both in my life. The latter is more deserving of my concern. I don't really care of all of Berkeley winds up like this:

Semper Fidelis

[BIGLOOK]

Big Time Bump!

[Melas]

I don't really care of all of Berkeley winds up like this:

Well there you have it. You don't care, I care, and never the twain shall meet. Further discussion is pretty much pointless.

[Melas]

Melas, those so called innocent people vote and how did they vote.

I think you'd be shocked to find out that the majority of people who'll be affected by the boycott don't get to vote in Berkely.

I'm questioning just how many FReepers live in or understand life in a metro area at this point. For a close to home example: Let's say the Dallas city council does something along these lines prompting a boycott. I would surely be effected by the boycott but I don't vote in Dallas because I live in Garland. My riding buddy would be directly affected since since he owns a Dallas business, but he lives in Plano, so he doesn't get to vote in Dallas either. Ditto for 3/4 of my friends here.

The irony is the Berkeley resident who owns a business in SF proper (which would be MOST Berkely business owners) would be unaffected by the boycott even though he/she did vote for the city council.

I can't abide a boycott that is indiscriminate in who it effects, guilty or not of the offense at hand.

[Girlene]

That was an absolutely outstanding photo essay by zombie. The pictures were great, and comments even better. He/she is a natural at this! Thanks for posting the link.

[o_zarkman44]

As long as there is a hold on the bill, anonomyous or otherwise, it virtually means no progress will be forthcoming.

So we are still dealing with virtual talking points. There is no way the Rats will allow the bill to proceed in Pelouseys and Feinsteins home state. A blocked bill is nothing more than the power of suggestion, my initial premise.

[hoe_cake]

bump

[yooling]

Sometimes the crap has to be rolled uphill.

[lormand]

Berkeley - The Birthplace of Free Speech Abuse

[Syncro]

A blocked bill is nothing more than the power of suggestion, my initial premise.

That may have been your "premise", but your statement was that the bill was "just a suggestion" which it was not.

Changing it to a premise now doesn't change the meaning in the post of yours to which I responded:

“Legislation has been started”

Correction!!! Legislation has been SUGGESTED.

My statement was posted to clear up that erroneous statement.

As you so empathetically (with 3 !!!'s lol) "corrected" me, I found it necessary to post a rebuttal, especially as you told me to "Be sure to follow it through the process and see if it actually makes it anywhere."

I was glad to do so for you, as you didn't seem to know at the time that it had been introduced officially.

The rest of your post (not quoted here), well yea.

Pelosi and Feinstein have naturally expressed their negative attitude towards it. The usual "women and children hardest hit" spin.

[Bob J]

“I don’t think anyone should want to make themselves feel better.”

I think some people are misguided in attacking the business community (which they do because they are an easy target) as opposed to the real culprits, the City Council. I think they do this because it makes them feel better, that they are “doing something” when in effect they are only spraying their ammo wildly around in the hopes of blindly hitting a target. Then they can come back here to FR and high five everyone for their small victory...while other bodies lie around them.

I don’t know the political make up of the Chamber of Commerce and business community, I would guess that as a group they are more conservative than the rest of the area, so to me this is a situation of a friendly fire attack. IMO, they are most likely people in that area for a partnership and/or cooperation on making something actually happen. Instead, people on this thread treat them as an enemy, attack them, call them names and try to force them into complying with their demands.

This is no way to win a battle like this. The goal should be the removal of these people from the Council at election time and to do that you need allies, not adversaries. Even if you are not successful, you can make them uncomfortable enough that they think twice next time before doing something boneheaded.

Unfortunately, the first reaction among many on FR is to simply and blindly lash out at anyone within arms reach. It’s easy, it’s cheap and you go home thinking you’ve accomplished something, but it really is a selfish reaction with a selfish goal...”make me feel good today”. Why is it the first thought is to destroy something rather than to fix it?

The hard part is thinking clearly and then soberly developing a long term strategy to achieve victory and following it even it takes months or years.

See my tagline.

[Bob J]

My letter to the Chamber;

“Mr. Peterson,

The recent issue of the Marine recruitment station has obviously raised some tensions. Unfortunately, in their effort to show support for the military, some have focused their attacks on the CofC and called for not only boycotts but urging business to relocate out of Berkeley. These people are well intentioned but misguided. It would be far more productive to view the Chamber as an ally rather then an adversary.

I noticed your website has a note and pics about your support for the military. In an effort to move the ball in the proper direction would your Chamber members be willing to partner with these groups in an effort to more directly demostrate that support? I believe they would be willing to provide you with window posters that would say something to the effect “Members of the Miltary Welcome Here”. The language could be mutually agreed upon, for instance you may wish to add a little something to soften it for your more neutral customers like “No Matter Ones Position on the War in Iraq, Our Veterans and Military personnel deserve our respect for their sacrifice. They are welcome here”. You get my drift.

If you see some possibilities here, respond and I will help get the two sides together.

Cordially,”

Tis better to light one candle than curse the darkness.

[Melas]

Well said. Kudos.