Posted on 03/18/2008 9:20:50 PM PDT by SmithL
The love is back between Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates and the city's chamber of commerce.
Just a month after the chamber released a letter saying Bates and the City Council hurt business by telling the Marine Corps and its recruiting center to get out of town, Bates is back in the group's good graces.
During a lunch Tuesday billed as "A Conversation with Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates," chamber board member Mark McLeod introduced Bates as "our mayor and our friend."
Afterward, CEO Ted Garrett said relations between its 425 members and Bates are better than ever.
"We approach the (Marines) issue from different aspects, but at the end of the day, we all want what's good for Berkeley," Garrett said. "I think this has strengthened the relationship with the mayor. We were disappointed (about actions against the Marines); however, it is fostering an understanding between the City Council and the business community."
When asked whether the chamber will get behind the mayor if he decides to run for a third term in November, Garrett played it down the middle.
"I would classify the mayor as a friend, but we can't make any political statements at this time," Garrett said.
That's quite a contrast to the stern letter Garrett released in February that said in part: "we strongly urge the Berkeley City Council to offer a public apology to our community and the countless others who were offended by their actions...In the future we expect collaboration with the Mayor and Advertisement City Council when considering actions which may impact our business and local community."
At the same time Bates and the council were digging in their heels and telling the world the Marines should get out of Berkeley, the chamber was running a photograph on its web site of Garrett at the recruiting center giving the Marines a box of donuts under the caption that read: "We believe in a community where ALL voices can be heard."
The council never did apologize, but it also voted not to send the letter it had previously planned to send that called the Marines "unwelcome intruders."
In interviews since then, Garrett has complained that protests at the Marine recruiting center on Shattuck Avenue have hurt business in the immediate area and national attention has caused people to cancel hotel reservations.
During his speech Tuesday, Bates talked about a number of good things happening in the business community. There is new business downtown on the way. And West Berkeley is getting a badly needed new supermarket called Berkeley Bowl. He also said several new condo developments were approved along San Pablo Avenue.
Then he explained why he continues to believe that the Marines should leave town.
"This city has protested wars and recruiting since I was in grammar school," Bates said. "People laid down on railroad tracks. In this war we have lost 4,000 of our people and one million Iraqis and they estimate it's going to cost $3 trillion. Can you imagine if we had that to spend on education? What a waste."
Bates said he has apologized numerous times for offending the men and women who serve in the armed forces, and he said the council's action calling the Marines "unwelcome intruders" was a mistake and unprofessional.
"But I am not prepared to apologize to the Marines for recruiting our kids," Bates said. "We said they have the right to be here, and people have the right to protest."
After Bates finished, there was only one question from the audience regarding the Marines issue: How much has it cost the city to control the protesters: Answer: about $100,000.
"And that's not a huge fiscal problem for us," Bates said.
I haven’t got a reason to abandon my boycott of the People’s Republic of Berkeley.
Berkeley Bowl? As in ‘bowl of fruits and nuts’?
My first and only visit to The People's Republic of Berkeley was for the rally last month.
I can't see any reason whatsoever to ever drive over there again or to purchase anything with a Berkeley address.
the only waste is Bates, a pile of doo doo..
We have more Gold Star Parents than we need, we have less waterboarding than we need, because of Berkeley.
It’s time for Regime Change in Berkeley. If the Berkeley Chamber of Commerce is willing to work for that, I say LET THAT let that be the true test of where their loyalties are.
Beware FLATTERY
Psalm 5:9
My enemies cannot speak a truthful word.
Their deepest desire is to destroy others.
Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave.
Their tongues are filled with flattery.
Psalm 12:2
They speak vanity every one with his neighbour:
with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
Proverbs 23:1-3
When you sit down to eat with a ruler, consider who and what are before you;
For you will put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to desire.
Be not desirous of his dainties, for it is deceitful food [offered with questionable motives].
Proverbs 26:28
A lying tongue hates those it crushes,
And a flattering mouth works ruin.
Proverbs 29:5
A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1977385/posts?page=18#18
$100,000 “No problem”? Thats a big tab for the taxpayers to pick up. Mayor Bates should be run out of town on his Moped. Berkeley’s citizens are smoking it...
Garrett is a spineless smuck, just like we thought. I never did get a response to my letter. What a kiss arse he truly is.
smuck=schmuck
Thanks for the ping!
Yes, they would turn out stupid Marxist $#^%#^% faster than they can now....
Cut Pubic (sp intended) Education to ZERO.. All Education should be from Private/Parochial sources.....
"And that's not a huge fiscal problem for us," Bates said.
Well, then. Let the boycott continue, so that it does become a huge fiscal problem for Master Bates and the people of the Republic of Berzerkistan.
Mayor Bates should forthwith be addressed as Master Bates
BTTT
bump
The governor of Michigan, Jennifer Granholm, is a proud graduate of Berkeley. Her thesis was titled “Why I Love French Communists.”
Maybe now the idiot voters of Michigan can understand why that state has been in a recession since she occupied the governor’s chair. Oh, wait. The idiot Michigan voter doesn’t understand. They gave the communist another four years in 2006 to complete the destruction of Michigan.
Never mind.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.