Posted on 02/27/2008 12:27:59 PM PST by SmithL
People who are angry at city leaders for their anti-military stance are taking it out on businesses -- canceling hotel and restaurant reservations as well as 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 the weekly anti-war protests have become increasingly volatile.
Nearly a month 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 do not 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.
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, he said.
"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 percent to 15 percent this month because of the traffic jams and fighting associated with the protests.
"They are killing our business," he 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.
CodePink, which held another rally Tuesday, has been holding protests since fall, while the group The World Can't Wait got involved recently. They are becoming increasingly violent and volatile. Police have arrested five people recently, including two last week.
Also last week, protesters violated their city permit by moving away from the recruiting center and yelling through a megaphone.
"The downtown is like a full-time circus right now. There isn't a day when we're not hearing the drums and the noise. I think it's off-putting," said Susie Medak, managing director of the Berkeley Repertory Theatre.
CodePink leaders, who went door-to-door Tuesday passing out sandwiches and pink window signs reading "Another Berkeley Business for Peace," deny that the protests are affecting downtown business.
"If they want to blame the downturn in the economy on a protest against the Marines, it's a pretty bad excuse," CodePink co-founder Medea Benjamin said.
City Councilwoman Dona Spring also does not view the protests as a problem. She said only the businesses on the same block are being affected.
"Every anti-war group in the East Bay wants to come and protest. This is where the action is," she said.
On Jan. 29, the Berkeley City Council agreed to send a letter to the U.S. Marines calling them "uninvited and unwelcome intruders." At the same time, the council also approved a fee waiver for a parking space and event permit for CodePink's weekly protests.
Many were angered by the move that they viewed as anti-troop and anti-American. An estimated 30,000 e-mails were sent to City Hall, condemning the council's move.
On Feb. 12, anti-war groups were joined by hundreds of military supporters, veterans and parents of soldiers, who rallied in front of Old City Hall in the hours leading up to a City Council meeting. The meeting was scheduled to re-examine the city's original anti-Marine stance.
In the early hours of the next morning and after more than 125 people spoke on both sides of the issue, the council voted 7-2 not to send the letter to the Marines. The council also refused to apologize and outlined their support for those protesting the U.S. Marines center.
For their moves, the chamber's Garrett said merchants are being punished.
"(We) strongly encourage the City Council to offer a public apology to our community and the countless others who were offended by their actions -- folks who roll up their sleeves every day and work hard to serve their country and their community," he wrote in a recent letter.
Deborah Badhia, executive director of the Downtown Business Association, said the fallout and the protests have been a "hardship" on businesses.
"In spite of any political issues that are going on, we still want the public to know that they are welcome and invited in Berkeley," she said.
Good. Nothing to see there anyway but sodomites and libs.
Neener, neener....
Would you eat sandwiches that code pink gave you?
No, not blaming. They are protesting the city's asinine leadership in the only effective way possible. Money is the only thing that could get their attention.
Besides, it's the people of Berkeley who voted for these morons.
Ironic that the only way to hurt the military hating leftist (anti-capitalists) sleazeballs is in the pocketbook. Cutting off the $$ always gets their attention. Keep up the boycott and let them feel it for at least a year.
Hippies are a natural enemy of business.....
An epiphany of sorts.
A simple search tells us that Mostafa Hallaji, is the owner.
Can't possibly imagine that HE'D be against the jihadis and the pinkos...
No, they're blaming the Chamber of Commerce and putting pressure on the businesses to do something about it.
Notice that Code Pinko is blaming the economy for the downturn instead of their infantile protests.
IE, blame Bush.
Mo Hallaji, owner of Pollo’s at Shattuck Avenue and Addison Street, said his business has declined 10 percent to 15 percent this month because of the traffic jams and fighting associated with the protests.
“They are killing our business,” he said. “Everybody is against the war, but that is not the right way to go about it if you want to accomplish something
Hey MO,FU
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.
” City Councilwoman Dona Spring also does not view the protests as a problem. She said only the businesses on the same block are being affected.
“Every anti-war group in the East Bay wants to come and protest. This is where the action is,” she said.
She has turned berkley into her own summer camp. Really sensitive to her constituants.
The idiot said the same thing in this thread.
Couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch of people...
You lie, Mo.
> Would you eat sandwiches that code pink gave you?
In the words of the inimitable John Belushi in Animal House, I would probably take a big bite and say, “See if you can guess what I am now?”
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