Login

Activists, take a bow

Editor:

Activism in Alameda is part of a global phenomenon. This includes working for maintaining, upgrading and enjoying the Mif Albright Golf Course, a community resource, and against its takeover by one individual supported by the city. It also includes understanding just which contaminants, where they are and in what quantities, are contained at Alameda Point and wording against the city's drive for unsustainable development.

This activisim also encompasses working for a homegrown animal shelter and against outsourcing truant pets and for a fi scally balanced community and against overly generous public employee benefi t packages in an era of austerity. And it embraces working for an Occupy Alameda zone, for beautiful trees on our streets, for transparency in local government, or for other sustainable endeavors.

Activists are echoing the sentiments and actions of the 99 percent around the world.

The Occupy movement is maturing from tent encampments easily harassed by law enforcement. The trend around the world is about re-occupying our own communities, neighborhoods and ourselves.

Across this nation residents are zoning in on what has happened to their communities and saying, "I will work to change things at my neighborhood level; my actions will 'trickle up' to the country, state and federal levels."

Sure, it may take years, but it has taken years to get where we are now: fi nancially, socially, politically and militarily troubled. The 99 percent has nothing to lose and everything to gain.

So, congratulations to the activists in Alamedans who are re-invigorating this community with wonderful, engaging, generative and sustainable ideas and actions.

— Susan Galleymore

Remember Pearl Harbor

Editor:

Year after year Dec. 7 comes and goes. Memories fade and priorities change. But we who care remember Pearl Harbor.

— Lou Baca Boatswains Mate Second Class U. S. Navy (ret.)

The crawl was a ball

Editor:

I haven't seen any articles or feedback about the restaurant crawl that took place Oct. 16, and wonder why not. This was a community event involving 28 Alameda restaurants that are part of the Miss Alameda Says Compost Program. The program is really important because most of Alameda's restaurants have been training to compost properly and making Alameda really green.

Miss Alameda Jessica Robinson; aka "Recycle Woman" and Jeff Cambra, popular man about town, put the crawl together. The crawl showcased each of the restaurants' tasty foods and ambience. The restaurateurs were all so cordial and gracious. It was a lot of fun and I really hope that this can become an annual event.

— J. Blair

Just paramedics cleared

Editor:

Your Nov. 24 headline, "Paramedics Cleared of Blame in Zack Case," was, I think somewhat careless. While I understand the space challenges of print publishing, I still believe that more thought could have been given to aligning the headline to the substance of the story.

I am concerned also that Sam Felsing, who submitted what some consider a "love letter" to the editor in favor of the Alameda Fire Department, in the weeks after Zack's death, was assigned to this story.

When I called EMSA (Emergency Medical Services Authority), an offi cial there stressed that their "jurisdiction is in the paramedic's performance providing patient care, which is limited to actions taken after the patient was removed from the water."

EMSA did not evaluate the actions of public safety offi cials as they stood on the beach while a Good Samaritan pulled Raymond Zack's body from the water. Rather, they evaluated the behavior of the paramedics only after Zack was pulled from the water, long after they should have entered the water themselves.

It's obvious from the story that Sam Felsing didn't even make a cursory call to EMSA in Sacramento to get more background or information. Your headline on your story may mistakenly give the impression that the state agency cleared Alameda fi refi ghters (and police) for standing on the beach with their hands in their pockets while Zack drowned.

The fact is that EMSA did not consider nor evaluate the refusal of Alameda fi refi ghters (or police) to enter the water to try to prevent Zack's drowning on May 30. Subsequently, the city's press release notwithstanding, they have not been exonerated for their inaction.

— David Howard

Editors note: As Howard noted the headline made no reference to any personnel but paramedics. Sam Felsing is the Alameda Sun's city editor and covers what goes on in the city. He wrote his "letter" to the Alameda Fire Department (AFD) after AFD saved his family's home from burning.

Chamber: shop on Island this holiday

Editor:

This year will be different.

This year we in Alameda will give the gift of genuine concern for local businesses. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, there is nothing to be found in Alameda.

It's time to think outside the box. Everyone gets a hair cut. How about gift certifi cates from your local hair salon or barber?

Health club membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement in 2012.

Who wouldn't appreciate getting his or her car detailed? Small, localowned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certifi - cate or a book of gift certifi cates.

Are you one of those extravagant givers? Perhaps, that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, house painted, gardening services, or games at the local golf course.

There are fabulous local restaurants and ice cream parlors — all offering gift certifi cates.

For the person with everything, donations to our many local nonprofi ts in his or her name would be greatly appreciated and help provide for our own.

Remember, this isn't about going off island — this is about supporting your hometown businesses with their fi nancial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

How many people couldn't use oil changes or tires for their cars, trucks or motorcycles, done at a shop run by someone local?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift? How about the services of a local cleaning lady, or the pampering services of a local day spa, massage studio or chiropractor?

How about a subscription to our local newspapers or magazine for those who want to keep up on their hometown?

My computer could use a tuneup, and I know I can fi nd someone local who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.

OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people make beautiful art work, jewelry, pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.

Plan your holiday outings at local, owner-operated restaurants or event centers and leave your server a nice tip.

Or, how about going to see a play, movie or cultural event at our hometown theater or one of our cultural centers?

Musicians need love, too, so fi nd a venue that showcases local groups.

Christmas should be about caring and supporting your local small businesses to keep them plugging away to follow their dreams.

And, when we care about our local businesses, we care about our communities, and the benefi ts come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine. Let's make this our new Alameda Christmas tradition.

Honestly, do you really need to leave the island?

— Mark Sorensen, Alameda Chamber of Commerce