Code Pink's Free Speech against the Marines - it does cost bucks!
By now, most people have heard of the despicable actions of the Berkley City Council (California) that had voted to send a letter to the Marines at the recruitement center that said "uninvited and unwelcome intruders". Then they let Code Pink have a parking spot right in front of the Marine Corps office who, being extremely anti-war, have all but created havoc in the area.
Enough so that the businesses in the area are suffering:
People who are angry at city leaders for their anti-military stance are taking it out on businesses — canceling hotel rooms, restaurant reservations and theater tickets.They are writing letters to the Berkeley Chamber of Commerce outlining their plans to boycott the city.
And they are steering clear of downtown shops because of the weekly anti-war protests that in recent weeks have become increasingly volatile.
Two weeks after the Berkeley City Council refused to apologize to the Marine Corps for calling them "uninvited and unwelcome intruders," Berkeley businesses said they are feeling the backlash from people who don't want to spend their money in the city.
Well, why is anyone surprised at this? The Town Fathers decide to politicize and demonize icons of what many of us know and believe to be "American Patriotism" and are proud of the Marines (full disclosure - my son was a Marine). Then Councilors refuse to back down from that stance. Why would people, who support the Marines, want to economically support their actions?
"Folks are upset," he said. "Unfortunately, they are blaming the businesses."
Mo Hallaji, owner of Pollo's at Shattuck Avenue and Addison Street, said his business has declined 10 percent to 15 percent this month because of the traffic jams and fighting associated with the protests.
"They are killing our business," Hallaji said. "Everybody is against the war,but that is not the right way to go about it if you want to accomplish something."
That's their problem - not every one is against the war and to many of us, you don't spit at the Marines - and that is what the City Council did in a literary fashion. Too many still remember vets coming back from 'Nam and the treatment they received - the City Council did it again - "intruders"??? And I'll disagree...
"The downtown is like a full-time circus right now. There isn't a day when we're not hearing the drums and the noise (from the various groups). I think it's off-putting," said Susie Medak, managing director of the Berkeley Repertory Theatre.
And "normal" people want nothing to do with this....they don't need the headaches so the
businesses will suffer as long as the City Councilors continue to allow an anti-business environment to continue.
CodePink leaders, who went door-to-door Tuesday, passing out sandwiches and pink window signs reading, "Another Berkeley Business for Peace," disputed the notion that the protests are negatively affecting downtown businesses.
"If they want to blame the downturn in the economy on a protest against the Marines, it's a pretty bad excuse," said CodePink co-founder Medea Benjamin.
Well, let's see. Business is OK before. The protests start, and escalate, and business drops. Can you say "spin"? Or is it "being delusional"?
City Councilmember Dona Spring also said she doesn't view the protests as a problem. She said only the businesses on the same block as the demonstrations are being affected.
"Every anti-war group in the East Bay wants to come and protest. This is where the action is," she said.
It is rather obvious that this Councilor puts her politics before the City's businesses. Like I said, until the businesses in the area take the Councilors to task, be ready to find the tills emptier and emptier.
Garrett said merchants are being punished for the council's actions.
"(We) strongly encourage the City Council to offer a public apology to our community and the countless others who were offended by their actions — folks who roll up their sleeves every day and work hard to serve their country and their community," he wrote in a recent letter.
Deborah Badhia, executive director of the Downtown Business Association, said the fall-out and the protests have been a "hardship" on businesses.
"In spite of any political issues that are going on, we still want the public to know that they are welcome and invited in Berkeley," she said.
Don't bet on it....
Comments
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/2080
Posted by: Randy | February 29, 2008 12:55 PM