“A good place to start is to notify the Berkley Chamber of Commerce”
TexasCajun, got an email from them. their response is below.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1971356/posts
..........................................................
The Berkeley Chamber of Commerce has heard from individuals far and wide regarding recent Berkeley City Council actions and we appreciate that the American spirit is alive and robust.
The business community was not notified of pending city council action, nor asked for input.
We ask everyone to try to separate the actions of the City Council and not harm the good, hard-working small business owners - most of whom do not live in Berkeley and therefore cannot vote in Berkeley.
Additionally, we believe that the Berkeley City Council owes an apology to the community and others, whether they be a Marine or a hard-working business owner, folks that are just trying to do their job in this terrible economy, and which is now more difficult because their actions. We feel that granting a parking space in front of the Marine’s office is harassment for them and their neighbors, and should be rescinded.
In the long term, we expect collaboration with the Mayor and City Council when considering actions which may impact our local businesses and community.
The Berkeley Chamber of Commerce believes in a community where all voices are heard in a fair manner.
At the same time, we believe that it is NOT in the spirit of free speech to grant favoritism to any viewpoint, whether we agree with that viewpoint or not.
Unfortunately recent City Council actions coincide with a very weak national economy.
As in many cities and towns across America, hard-working business owners, (85% of Berkeley’s businesses) have less than five employees, operate on a thin margin, and rely heavily on their walk-in customers. The housing and credit crisis have resulted in an unstable economy and a risky business environment. Combined with recent council action, our business community is painfully feeling the revenue loss.
The Berkeley Chamber of Commerce is proud that we promote, connect and strengthen business and community. In short, we are all here to help each other be successful, and to work together to create the best Berkeley possible, one that is inviting and respectful for all.
Berkeley lauds itself as the birthplace of free speech, a tremendous gift to America. We believe it works both ways, and in a fair manner.
Ted Garrett
CEO
Berkeley Chamber of Commerce
“not harm the good, hard-working small business owners - most of whom do not live in Berkeley and therefore cannot vote in Berkeley.”
Perhaps those business owners should shorten their commutes by re-locating the business where they live?
I live in a similar situation. Live just outside a city limits. Nearly Every council action does affect me or my property in some way, yet I cannot vote for city government. But that don’t stop me from atending meetings and voicing concerns, or being a member of a community organization that has representitive members who do reside within the city limits, and attend city council meetings.
Of course every business within the city limits has concern the council will not renew their business license. For some who have moved on, it was the best thing they could have done business wise. Freedom of choice is not as easy as demoRats and liberals try to make it sound.
If a search on him showed that he donates to a bunch of Barking Moon-Bats it would be fun to rub his nose in that!
It would also discredit his claim that he disagrees with the city of Berkeley and their anti- Military/ anti-American actions.
On Feb 15, 2008, at 8:22 PM, bdennard wrote:
Mr. Garret,
I would beg to differ with your opinion that you are “the only group opposing the city counsels actions”.
You might want to start by reviewing the multitude of addresses CC’d in this email in re-assessing that stance. Next if you would like I could forward some of the 13,000 emails I have received from Americans all across the nation, Iraq and Afghanistan who have asked me to continue on with my/our boycott until Berkeley understands clearly that we will not stand for them calling the USMC (or any other branch of the armed services) “war criminals”, “murderers”, “assassins”, etc.
YOUR high schools supplied (let them take off from school if they wanted to demosntrate against the Military) the foul mouthed children who I witnessed verbally assault elderly women by screaming “you Nazi c***t, get out of Berkeley”, I watched two of their radical, hate filled teachers, whom your city pays to teach these kids, direct these indoctrinated charges to surround and verbally assault elderly veterans screaming the most vile profanities. Where were you while this abomination was going on. Where exactly were you voicing you opposition to the City Counsels position, from underneath your desk? You most certainly were not anywhere near the City Hall.
If you do believe that the City of Berkeley owes the military an apology then write a letter to them clearly stating that position on Chamber of Commerce stationary and cc everyone on this list, otherwise I am afraid that I and most of these other patriots, will come to the conclusion that you have simply written this wimpy, undecipherable gobbledygook in the hopes that we would feel sorry for the poor people of Berkeley and go away.
You have sorely misjudged your opponents. We stand in defense of our warriors, those men and women who are willing to die for us and our way of life. We owe them no less than to stand up to any and all who mistreat and besmersh their good name, and include in that group those who stand on the sideline rather than firmly, tall and proudly in their name with us.
No, Mr. Garret ( I see that you finally had the courage to add your name to the message below, in that when you first contacted me, you simply went by the name “assistant”), this is far from over.
In fact an appropriate way of phrasing this email should have been:
Now that we have your attention...
I have been contacted by Fortune 500 & 400 companies that wish to join in the boycott, in that they too are disgusted with the un-American antics of YOUR elected officials. They are two of the newest additions which already include three vintners, a Fortune 500 Head Hunter recruiter, restaurant suppliers, clothing manufacturers,
and a day labor provider. The list is growing as I recieve an additional 100-150 calls a day and an additional 500 emails. Further I am being interviewed on numerous prominent radio programs wherein I will ask for more companies to join us in the boycott.
YOUR city seems to be hell bent in repeating the sins of the past when you spit on and cursed those returning from Vietnam. WE are hell bent on teaching you that you and your city will never again be allowed mistreat and besmirch the heroes of the United States Armed Forces.
Good People Sleep Peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.
Cordially,
Brian Dennard
PS If in fact you learned that “Berkeley is the birthplace of free speech” in school somehwere, I would suggest that you ask for a full refund of your tuition
On Feb 15, 2008, at 8:22 PM, bdennard wrote:
Mr. Garret,
I would beg to differ with your opinion that you are “the only group opposing the city counsels actions”.
You might want to start by reviewing the multitude of addresses CC’d in this email in re-assessing that stance. Next if you would like I could forward some of the 13,000 emails I have received from Americans all across the nation, Iraq and Afghanistan who have asked me to continue on with my/our boycott until Berkeley understands clearly that we will not stand for them calling the USMC (or any other branch of the armed services) “war criminals”, “murderers”, “assassins”, etc.
YOUR high schools supplied (let them take off from school if they wanted to demosntrate against the Military) the foul mouthed children who I witnessed verbally assault elderly women by screaming “you Nazi c***t, get out of Berkeley”, I watched two of their radical, hate filled teachers, whom your city pays to teach these kids, direct these indoctrinated charges to surround and verbally assault elderly veterans screaming the most vile profanities. Where were you while this abomination was going on. Where exactly were you voicing you opposition to the City Counsels position, from underneath your desk? You most certainly were not anywhere near the City Hall.
If you do believe that the City of Berkeley owes the military an apology then write a letter to them clearly stating that position on Chamber of Commerce stationary and cc everyone on this list, otherwise I am afraid that I and most of these other patriots, will come to the conclusion that you have simply written this wimpy, undecipherable gobbledygook in the hopes that we would feel sorry for the poor people of Berkeley and go away.
You have sorely misjudged your opponents. We stand in defense of our warriors, those men and women who are willing to die for us and our way of life. We owe them no less than to stand up to any and all who mistreat and besmersh their good name, and include in that group those who stand on the sideline rather than firmly, tall and proudly in their name with us.
No, Mr. Garret ( I see that you finally had the courage to add your name to the message below, in that when you first contacted me, you simply went by the name “assistant”), this is far from over.
In fact an appropriate way of phrasing this email should have been:
Now that we have your attention...
I have been contacted by Fortune 500 & 400 companies that wish to join in the boycott, in that they too are disgusted with the un-American antics of YOUR elected officials. They are two of the newest additions which already include three vintners, a Fortune 500 Head Hunter recruiter, restaurant suppliers, clothing manufacturers,
and a day labor provider. The list is growing as I recieve an additional 100-150 calls a day and an additional 500 emails. Further I am being interviewed on numerous prominent radio programs wherein I will ask for more companies to join us in the boycott.
YOUR city seems to be hell bent in repeating the sins of the past when you spit on and cursed those returning from Vietnam. WE are hell bent on teaching you that you and your city will never again be allowed mistreat and besmirch the heroes of the United States Armed Forces.
Good People Sleep Peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.
Cordially,
Brian Dennard
PS If in fact you learned that “Berkeley is the birthplace of free speech” in school somehwere, I would suggest that you ask for a full refund of your tuition
In order for this boycott to work, it needs to be as near total as possible. Business owners do not need to live in the immediate Berkeley area in order to march, in very large numbers, on city hall, to hold demonstrations, to write letters to the editor, to organize support for new city council and mayoral candidates. To work for those candidates in upcoming elections. To call for the resignations of most of the current city council, and for the resignation of the Mayor, and any other city official responsible for this assault on our brave troops. To organize signature gathering for a recall of said Berkeley public officials............
The business owners and citizens of the Berkeley area will not do the above unless there is a tough, serious, effective boycott...............
Doing business in “this terrible economy”? Was that a stab at our current administraction? Am I living in a bubble, I’m just not seeing this horrible economy.