Posted on 05/11/2006 5:46:14 AM PDT by Drango
The closure of Cody's Books on Berkeley's Telegraph Avenue is the latest, and perhaps sharpest, blow to a famed but increasingly troubled area renowned for its intense pedestrian traffic, youth-oriented businesses, colorful street vendors and vagrants.
Business owners, city leaders and UC Berkeley officials say things have hit a disturbing low on "The Ave,'' where the commercial vacancy rate is approaching 15 percent and last year's sales tax receipts were 30 percent below what they were in 1990 when adjusted for inflation - the sharpest decline of any business district in the city. ~snip
Citywide, sales taxes dropped from about $13 million in 2001 to about $12.8 million last year, and inflation makes those numbers look even worse, he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Rember how great Boycott Berkeley was? It's working!
Update ping!
update ping!
Couldn't happen to a nicer place.
Don't you just love the irony? The Commies in Berkley are bemoaning their decline and blaming it on lack of capitalism and homeless youth.
But...but...but!
Put down the bong, take a bath, grow up.
I just love this news!
"I believe the neighborhood is just about to turn around,"
It was a dump in 68 and even worse in 96 the last time I was there. The only way a 'turn around' could happen there is with another earthquake. These people are delusional.
Walk Telegraph from Claremont to the campus and if you are sentient by the time you hit Sather Gate you will feel that a bath and a good scrub is necessary.
A voice of reason in the wilderness.
Hey, it's a good shopping area if you want to buy sunglasses, incense or beads on Saturdays.
Who would boycott Bezerkley since there's no one there except commie "liberals" and they wouldn't boycott their own "brothers" and commie "liberal" stores anyway.
Are there any conservatives living there?
There are a few in Berkeley proper, and in the greater SF Bay Area there are a number of FReepers.
Ping the list please!
Oh, no, say it isn't true. Utopian vision falls flat -- again. Last time I was there, Telegraph Ave was a DUMP. A Mission Field if ever there was one. But at least the homeless have their rights.
Oh well hot-DAMN, Drango!!
I gotta throw Momma in the ol' Chevrolet & get the hell out to Bezerkly to see some of those vagrants, while we still can.
Why if I close my eyes I can almost smell the odor of urin stained clothing & yesterday's booze right now. ~sigh~
This SFC pap is so much more than ordinary "denial".
It's a full blown mental illness.
...on a regional scale.
Also, it's a good place if you're looking to buy tie-dye shirts.
It is good for one thing:
"If you kids don't listen to me, THAT'S where you will end up."
We moved to N California in 1971. Berkley had all types of riots and left wingers marching and hating America.
So in 3 plus decades, I have never wanted to go Berkley and have basically boycotted this inbread and insane city of Lunatic Libs.
It's not the boycott, it's just the crime. The wealthy, upscale "Liberal 2.0" is taking her business over the hill to Walnut Creek or Danville, where she can walk down the sidewalk in realtive safety. She no longer feels compelled to shop Berkeley just because it's funky, since many of the same stores and restaurants are now available to her in safer neighborhoods.
"The only way a 'turn around' could happen there is with another earthquake."
Nah, a fire or huge sinkhole would probably work too.
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