Posted on 02/05/2008 1:18:07 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
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.
Last week the council declared that the center was "unwelcome" in Berkeley and sought to aide Code Pink, a group that organizes regular protests outside the center, by reserving a parking space for the group in front of the center, among other actions.
Since then, the resolutions have elicited a nationwide response. Last Thursday, United States Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., said he would attempt to remove funding for programs in the Berkeley area to protest the council's actions.
Ted Garrett, the CEO of the Berkeley Chamber of Commerce, said he had received at least 140 e-mails from people who said they would not do business in Berkeley in response to the council's resolutions.
"Most are threatening to never set foot in Berkeley and never have anything to do with businesses in Berkeley," he said. "I know of at least one instance now where an innkeeper has reported that one visitor has cancelled their reservation because of the council's actions."
Councilmember Darryl Moore said some of the complaints may have come from people who never planned on visiting Berkeley in the first place.
"Those people don't live anywhere near Berkeley and who's to say that they were coming to Berkeley to begin with?" he said. "I just think it would be unfortunate if the chamber did some sort of knee-jerk reaction to all of this."
At a meeting of the chamber's Government Affairs committee yesterday, some members discussed a plan to withhold business license taxes to protest the resolutions' effects on their business.
A formal plan to withhold taxes would require the approval of the chamber's executive committee or board of directors.
But Carolyn Henry Golphin, the immediate past chair of the chamber's board, said withholding taxes should only be a last resort.
"We have to do what we have to do," she said. "We do need to make a stand together if that's what we all agree on."
Liz Stevens, broker and owner of Windermere Real Estate in Berkeley, said the current controversy was part of a larger problem.
"The city has a good way of keeping people at arms length and making decisions that affect them at the same time," she said.
Mark McLeod, a member of the chamber's board and president of the Downtown Berkeley Association, said he agreed that the council should have considered the implications of its actions before voting for the resolutions.
"The council can't operate as an isolated unit-the university, council and chamber have to realize they're all members of a large, complex community and have to act with a realization of the effect of their actions on all members of the community," he said.
Long term fix, these "businessmen" might want to think about how they vote in the next election.
Nice bookmark, thanks!
The only ex-military business owners in Berkeley are druggies and boozers who got kicked out of the service.
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
Wozniak?! Oh, for a second there I thought The Woz was getting into politics.
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.
If that’s the case, then Kriss W is misleading in his e-mail to kellynla.
Thanks. I have sent them an e-mail!
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.
I “think” there were two votes...but don’t hold me to that...
Why would the Marines want to be in Berzerkeley anyway? I really don’t get it.
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.
bttt!
May I just say I LOVE FREE REPUBLIC?!? :-)
No coverups allowed! Woot!
"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.
Nothing like donuts to solve a major political issue!! D’oh.
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