stephanie
02-27-2008, 05:40 PM
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Hotels, theater, restaurants have seen cancellations, with hostility from opponents of military branch cited
By Kristin Bender and Doug Oakley
STAFF WRITERS
Article Launched: 02/27/2008 03:03:57 AM PST
People who are angry at city leaders for their anti-military stance are taking it out on businesses -- canceling hotel and restaurant reservations as well as 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 the weekly anti-war protests have become increasingly volatile.
Nearly a month after the Berkeley City Council refused to apologize to the U.S. Marine Corps for calling them "uninvited and unwelcome intruders," Berkeley businesses are feeling the backlash from people who do not want to spend their money in the city.
"We're hearing of folks canceling reservations and canceling hotel rooms, and we know there is a direct correlation. How big, I don't know. We're in a tough economic period anyway," said Ted Garrett, chief executive officer of the Berkeley Chamber of Commerce.
The chamber has received an estimated 300 e-mails, letters and faxes from people upset about the council's action and its refusal to apologize, he said.
"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," he said. "Everybody is against the war, but that is not the right way to go about it if you want to accomplish something."
Quentin Moore, owner of Berkeley Hardware on University Avenue, is not far from the U.S. Marine recruiting center, at 64 Shattuck Square, and the protests might be causing a downturn in his business.
"I see maybe two or three customers in here, and maybe (the protests) are the reason," he said.
CodePink, which held another rally Tuesday, has been holding protests since fall, while the group The World Can't Wait got involved recently. They are becoming increasingly violent and volatile. Police have arrested five people recently, including two last week.
Also last week, protesters violated their city permit by moving away from the recruiting center and yelling through a megaphone.
"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. I think it's off-putting," said Susie Medak, managing director of the Berkeley Repertory Theatre.
CodePink leaders, who went door-to-door Tuesday passing out sandwiches and pink window signs reading "Another Berkeley Business for Peace," deny that the protests are affecting downtown business.
"If they want to blame the downturn in the economy on a protest against the Marines, it's a pretty bad excuse," CodePink co-founder Medea Benjamin said.
City Councilwoman Dona Spring also does not view the protests as a problem. She said only the businesses on the same block are being affected.
"Every anti-war group in the East Bay wants to come and protest. This is where the action is," she said.
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http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_8377213?source=rss&nclick_check=1
Hotels, theater, restaurants have seen cancellations, with hostility from opponents of military branch cited
By Kristin Bender and Doug Oakley
STAFF WRITERS
Article Launched: 02/27/2008 03:03:57 AM PST
People who are angry at city leaders for their anti-military stance are taking it out on businesses -- canceling hotel and restaurant reservations as well as 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 the weekly anti-war protests have become increasingly volatile.
Nearly a month after the Berkeley City Council refused to apologize to the U.S. Marine Corps for calling them "uninvited and unwelcome intruders," Berkeley businesses are feeling the backlash from people who do not want to spend their money in the city.
"We're hearing of folks canceling reservations and canceling hotel rooms, and we know there is a direct correlation. How big, I don't know. We're in a tough economic period anyway," said Ted Garrett, chief executive officer of the Berkeley Chamber of Commerce.
The chamber has received an estimated 300 e-mails, letters and faxes from people upset about the council's action and its refusal to apologize, he said.
"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," he said. "Everybody is against the war, but that is not the right way to go about it if you want to accomplish something."
Quentin Moore, owner of Berkeley Hardware on University Avenue, is not far from the U.S. Marine recruiting center, at 64 Shattuck Square, and the protests might be causing a downturn in his business.
"I see maybe two or three customers in here, and maybe (the protests) are the reason," he said.
CodePink, which held another rally Tuesday, has been holding protests since fall, while the group The World Can't Wait got involved recently. They are becoming increasingly violent and volatile. Police have arrested five people recently, including two last week.
Also last week, protesters violated their city permit by moving away from the recruiting center and yelling through a megaphone.
"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. I think it's off-putting," said Susie Medak, managing director of the Berkeley Repertory Theatre.
CodePink leaders, who went door-to-door Tuesday passing out sandwiches and pink window signs reading "Another Berkeley Business for Peace," deny that the protests are affecting downtown business.
"If they want to blame the downturn in the economy on a protest against the Marines, it's a pretty bad excuse," CodePink co-founder Medea Benjamin said.
City Councilwoman Dona Spring also does not view the protests as a problem. She said only the businesses on the same block are being affected.
"Every anti-war group in the East Bay wants to come and protest. This is where the action is," she said.
read the rest and comments..
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_8377213?source=rss&nclick_check=1