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Berkeley mayor, chamber on good terms
Contra Costa Times ^
| March 19, 2008
| By Doug Oakley
Posted on 03/22/2008 10:57:11 PM PDT by Syncro
Berkeley mayor, chamber on good terms
By Doug Oakley
STAFF WRITER
Article Launched: 03/19/2008 03:00:38 AM PDT
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 that Bates and the City Council hurt business by telling the Marine Corps and its recruiting center to get out of town, the mayor 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, chamber 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."
Garrett played it down the middle in regards to whether the chamber will get behind the mayor if he decides to run for a third term in November.
"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 he 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 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 doughnuts under the caption that read: "We believe in a community where ALL voices can be heard."
The council never apologized, but it also voted not to send the letter as previously planned, calling the Marines "unwelcome intruders."
In interviews since, 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 that several new condo developments were approved along San Pablo Avenue.
Then he explained why he continues to think that the Marines should leave town.
"This city has protested wars and recruiting since I was in grammar school," he said. "People laid down on railroad tracks. In this war we have lost 4,000 of our people and 1 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 those 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," he 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.
Reach Doug Oakley at doakley@bayareanewsgroup.com.
TOPICS: Free Republic; Front Page News; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: berkeley; chamberofcommerce; protests; supportthetroops
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To: Syncro
"I posted it Here probably after you logged off. ..." - Syncro, post 18 Thanks for the link to your other thread. I read your post in both threads and responded here.
"They just don't seem to get the fact that if they allow (and support) a group to harass one of their businesses, all of them will suffer." - Syncro, post 19
They (the CoC & Council) are completely missing the point the ailing business owners are begging them to hear, and the point the Troop Suppport Rally intended to deliver. As long as the Chamber and Council support and enable anti-war radical protests the City of Berkeley will suffer as they attract radical anti-war protesters that require police in riot gear.
Letters I've written to the Berkeley Chamber and Council go unanswered. Letters I've written to Federal Authorities also unanswered. Even the letter to the Berkeley Council Pres from my Chamber Pres went unanswered. It's not like people have not tried to communicate with these thick-skulled idiots. What does get some response is personal phone calls, but then I only get to speak with an administrative assistant or other low-man-on-the-totem-pole individual who only promises to "look into it" or "deliver the message." I just hope and pray all my efforts are not entirely wasted.
At this point, I don't give a rat's a** if Berkeley goes bankrupt from the Boycott. They've essentially asked for it... and, like I've always taught anyone who will listen, "You GET what you Pay Attention To" and "You Reap What You Sew"
21
posted on
03/23/2008 4:22:29 PM PDT
by
USMC Brat
(Set the example.)
To: Drango
Thanks for posting this article, Drango.
Bates needs to consider 'What if Berkeley had the funds the City has devoted toward supporting anti-war protests to spend within the City of Berkeley.' Stuff like beautification projects, road maintenance, attracting new jobs, etc. - things city councils all over the U.S. That's what they were elected to do.
"First of all, this city has protested wars and recruiting stations since I was in grammar school. People lay on the railroad tracks. People tied themselves to the recruiting station door, [Bates] said."
BFD... this guy seriously needs to grow up and stop living in the 60s. It was wrong then and it's wrong now. Anti-war Protests in the 60s got our soldiers killed in Nam, just like Anti-war Protests now are getting our soldiers killed in Iraq. The Iraqi Insurgents are watching and responding with suicide bombers and IEDs to feed the anti-war sentiment that protesters thrive on!
Its not like Berkeley is unique in this regard, said Bates, a former Army captain.
What is unique Bates, is that never before has a governing body of any city or state within the nation ever called our military "uninvited and unwelcome intruders" and given taxpayer funds toward the support of radical leftist groups.
Seriously I wish the media would stop mentioning that Bates is "a former Army captain." He is a TRAITOR to his service! Just as Councilmember Max Anderson is a TRAITOR to the Marine Corps.
"He pointed out that Code Pink has been demonstrating in many venues other than Berkeley, including in front of Nancy Pelosis house and at Congress. At the same time there are counter-demonstrations by Move America Forward, billed as a grassroots organization, but which actually is a bunch of right-wing shock jocks, Bates said.
AAARGH!! Them's fightin' words!
"Bates said that there have been boycotts of Berkeley in the past and that the current one will pass as they have before."
Don't count on that happening any time soon Berkeley. Bates is just trying to dazzle you with his attempt to be diplomatic but it's really just a load of 'baffle them with BS.' He went to the Chamber on full defensive.
Berkeley Business Owners you are on your own. Neither your Chamber or City Council is interested in representing you. Take matters into your own hands, afterall it's your livelihood on the block.
22
posted on
03/23/2008 5:13:33 PM PDT
by
USMC Brat
(Set the example.)
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