Posted on 02/27/2008 12:03:17 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
BERKELEY - People who are angry at city leaders for their anti-military stance are taking it out on businesses - canceling hotel rooms, restaurant reservations and theater tickets.
They are writing letters to the Berkeley Chamber of Commerce outlining their plans to boycott the city.
And they are steering clear of downtown shops because of the weekly anti-war protests that in recent weeks have become increasingly volatile.
Two weeks after the Berkeley City Council refused to apologize to the U.S. Marine Corps for calling them "uninvited and unwelcome intruders," Berkeley businesses are feeling the backlash from people who don't want to spend their money in the city.
"We're hearing of folks canceling reservations and canceling hotel rooms and we know there is a direct correlation. How big, I don't know. We're in a tough economic period anyway," said Ted Garrett, chief executive officer of the Berkeley Chamber of Commerce.
Garrett said the chamber has received an estimated 300 e-mails, letters and faxes from people upset about the council's action and its refusal to apologize. "Folks are upset," he said. "Unfortunately, they are blaming the businesses."
Mo Hallaji, owner of Pollo's at Shattuck Avenue and Addison Street, said his business has declined 10 to 15 percent this month because of the traffic jams and fighting associated with the protests.
"They are killing our business," Hallaji said. "Everybody is against the war but that is not the right way to go about it if you want to accomplish something."
Quentin Moore, owner of Berkeley Hardware on University Avenue, is not far from the U.S. Marine recruiting center at 64 Shattuck Square, and the protests might be causing a downturn in his business.
"I see maybe two or three customers in here and maybe (the protests) are the reason," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
These business owners should talk to their city council about lame brain political statements and how it hurts their business and the image of the city.
Sounds like from the article that most of them agree with the council and Code Pink, they’re just miffed that it hurts them in the pocketbook.
Too bad - they were warned......
Everybody, Mister Hallaji? Really you think everybody? Get outside of Berkeley for a while and maybe it'll dawn on you.
Seems Mister Hallaji has more than one lesson to learn today.
That’s why they invented Ballot Boxes . . . to throw those scum bags out of office . . . and if they don’t throw them out, then they deserve everything they’ve stood for these past years.
The petition
We, the undersigned condemn the Berkeley City Council’s treasonous attack on US Marine Recruiters stationed in their city. We ask that Congress cut off funds from any and all municipal entity within the confines of the city of Berkeley, California, until such time as the city council withdraws it’s action.
The City Council has voted to tell the Marines their downtown recruiting station is not welcome and “if recruiters choose to stay, they do so as uninvited and unwelcome guests.”
The measure passed last week by a vote of 8-1.
The council also voted to explore enforcing a city anti-discrimination law, focusing on the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.
In a separate item, the council voted, also 8-1, to give the Marxist protest group Code Pink a parking space in front of the recruiting office once a week for six months and a free sound permit for protesting once a week.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/cutoffberkeleynow
If you wish to, please share with your friends or e-mail to your address books. You DO NOT have to donate at the petition site, there will be a page asking for one for the site after you sign, just back out or exit. Your signature will already be on the petition.
http://www.fourfriedchickensandacoke.blogspot.com
Illbedamn, it’s working, folks!
Keep Up The Skeer BUMP!
Nuff said.
Good, that's the point! Money talks when politicians refuse to listen to anything else.
You’ve summed it up. Reap what you sow...
A couple of the local TV news stations have followed this and had some local business folk on tape that were not thrilled having Code Pink getting preferential parking space and being allowed to insult passersby and generally honk off in public.. it is not good for business..
So ,, Keep it up! When the locals finally get it,, maybe they’ll mend their ways and kick some of the council to the curb..
“As ye sow, so shall ye reap.”
And no, not EVERYONE is against the war. And no, Berkeley is (and never was) where the action is. It is just another group of inmates who took over the asylum.
Imagine the outcry if (or when) Conservatives take over a town and reshape it to their principles. Hey, not a bad idea.
Any town with an ice rink will do.
Agreed. I sympathize with the businesses affected. But when the money (i.e. businesses) walks out of Berkeley, then those idiotic traitors can switch over to Islam since they love it so much.
Well, Mr, Hallaji, not *everyone* is against fighting and winning a war that was pushed on us from outside on 9-11. And with all due respect, people like you are making it harder to win it. So, no, I don’t plan on stopping by Pollo’s anytime soon and making life easier for you by spending my money there. I’d rather go somewhere else.
“But I don’t know one person who voted for Nixon!”
Heh. ‘zactly.
A quick search reveals that Mostafa Hallaji is the owner.
Gee, can't imagine why HE'D be supportive of the pinkos...
They are killing our business,” Hallaji said. “Everybody is against the war but that is not the right way to go about it if you want to accomplish something.”
Everybody, Mister Hallaji? Really you think everybody? Get outside of Berkeley for a while and maybe it’ll dawn on you.
Seems Mister Hallaji has more than one lesson to learn today.
THANK YOU, Ramius!
Semper Fi,
Kelly
Poor Berkeley businesses.
Hey, I know what they should do. Put on a show! Find some performers who are Berkeley supporters , aren’t busy now and could donate their time. Some group that knows what a boycott is all about.
The Dixie Chicks.
Sorry Mr. Hallaji. I live in “flyover country” and you are obviously clueless. “Everybody” ISN’T against the war. You need to try to get out more often.
Dear Berkeley businesses,
Just pretend you’re South Africa.
Now do you get it?
Conservatives need to have lots of children . Teach them values and responsibilty . Adopt , foster, or guide but mentor a future leader. We are going to need as many as possible in the future.
Liberals with big mouths - i.e. The Dixie Chicks, Tim Robbins, Berkely City Coucil - are always appalled when those big mouths result in consequences. After all, being a liberal means never having to be accountable. But what they fail to realize is that their “backlash” is simply others voicing their opinions without shooting off their big mouths.
I was just about to post “Wanna bet Mo stands for Mohammed” but you got there first.
Not blaming the businesses, just letting them share the warmth their city mothers are fostering.
Next, we've got to get the UCB Department of Nuclear Engineering eliminated, since Berkeley's a nuclear-free zone.
That’s me: fastest Lexis in the Midwest.
Well I know I sent one to the Chamber...
also, wrote the Berkeley Downtown Association, the mayor and each and every one of the city council members and read them All the “riot act.”
And THANK YOU, for all your help and support, “2ndDivisionVet” !!!
Semper Fi,
Kelly
That's the way I read it, I can't feel sorry at all for them. It's only common sense that people in business should not bring politics into that business.
BTW, the comments following the article are a hoot, over 90% are criticizing Berkeley and the pinkos.
Just American citizens doing the job that Congress refuses to do.
Your correct and sadly there’s way too many in Congress that agree with this traitorous Council.
I agree. I especially like the following:
Most of the normal country views a resume with the word "Berkeley" on it like a Muslim views a ham sandwich.
your = you’re
Cute joke, but there's a problem:
The background in the photo is of a road that appears to be LEAVING San Francisco, not entering it.
it sounded to me as if theman that owns pollos was admonishing the protestors
Thanks.
I borrowed this picture and I do not know my way around SF.
Yes, he was admonishing the protesters because he’s losing business but then turns around and says everyone is against the war, that is simply not true and tells me he is in agreement with the Council.
IMO he just brought his politics into his business.
Don't worry about it, your point was well made.
Exactly.
They’re just miffed that it hurts them in the pocketbook.
Which is why this boycott is a good idea.
Well then, if it isn't a big deal to him he shouldn't complain.
No one will change their worldview with a boycott,
but we sure as hell don’t have to support people like this.
It’s called “establishing a feedback loop.”
Maybe they need to realize that not EVERYBODY is against the war!
I contacted Pete’s Coffee, which is headquartered in Berkeley to tell them that I was boycotting their products because of the actions of the Berkeley City Council. I got a nice email back from a lady there, telling me about how they send free coffee to the troops overseas. I suggested that if they felt that strongly, they should take out a full-page ad, condemning the Berkeley City Council and disavowing their actions.
I have heard only the crickets chirping. My boycott stands.
Ping
Interesting take that "everybody" is against a war that we are winning.
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