USA: Goodwill unwelcome on Solano Ave. in Berkeley

Berkeley - my favorite new Liberal/Progressive/Wanker's corner of America. This is the same city that was recently appalled that the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra is made up of White males (BTW - I've never had a reply to my very un-diplomatic email I sent the author of that article...not sure why). Yes, little petty things like the make-up of foreign orchestras irritate the good folk of Berkeley. Other things that rile these kind, wonderful, generous Liberals of Berkeley up is how the poor Muslims are treated - especially those at Club Gitmo. In fact, the detainees of Guantanamo are welcome in their fair city ahead of their own Marines. Yes, the upright, moral people of Berkeley sure know how to fight for a good cause....unless you're homeless or a bargain-hungry shopper that is. Yes, that's correct - the merchants on Solano Avenue in Berkeley are up in arms at the possibility that a nonprofit thrift store may open it's doors in the neighbourhood. The poor and homeless may, ummm, "lower" the tone of the area. Muslims, Blacks, Gays - all welcome and Berkeley will fight for your cause! Homeless and the poor - mmmmm... not so much. There you have it people -  the true liberal way of thinking in a nut shell.

Goodwill isn't getting a whole lot of it in Berkeley.

Solano Avenue merchants are trying to stop the nonprofit giant from opening a thrift store in the upscale commercial district, saying it would be a magnet for the homeless, noisy delivery trucks and bargain-hungry shoppers not likely to patronize the area's boutique baby stores and Persian rug shops.

"We need specialty stores that will draw people here, and that's not going to be Goodwill," said Anni Ayers Forcum, owner of a jewelry store on Solano Avenue.

Goodwill Industries of the East Bay began looking to open a store at 1831 Solano Ave. last summer and asked the city for an administrative use permit.

The permit is still pending, and Goodwill has not yet signed a lease for the storefront that was once occupied by a dance studio and a video store.

"We're looking at Solano Avenue because there's a lot of foot traffic, and we don't have much of a presence in North Berkeley and Albany," said Kimberly Scrafano, the group's vice president.

"But we haven't signed anything," she said. "We're still talking to the landlord."

Petitions

That has not stopped some merchants from circulating anti-Goodwill petitions and asking the city to stop the project on the grounds that it would alter the character of the neighborhood.

"We have nothing against Goodwill, we just don't think they belong on upper Solano," said Gerry Ruskewicz, who works at Sottovoce women's clothing boutique. "We're worried about the homeless and people leaving bags of donations outside."

Scrafano said Goodwill is working to streamline its donation process and does not allow donors to leave goods outside the store.

The city cannot act on the issue until Goodwill signs a lease and moves ahead with the permit process. If there are enough complaints, a public hearing on the permit could be scheduled.

Goodwill might be the least of Solano Avenue's worries. The shopping district is among Berkeley's most hard-hit by the recession, with vacant storefronts dotting the once-vibrant street.

The Oaks Theater, which once anchored the upper end of Solano, has a sheriff's eviction notice on the door, and Andronico's will soon face competition from a new Whole Foods Market headed for the Albany side of the neighborhood.

"At this point, all foot traffic is good foot traffic," said Shelly Alvarez, manager of a Solano gift shop called Greetings. "I'd much rather see people walking around spending money - even if it's at Goodwill - than walking past vacant storefronts."

Hannah Hernandez, who owns Hannah's, a used kids' clothing store a few doors from the proposed Goodwill, said she would welcome the thrift store to the neighborhood.

"Their stores are pretty clean. It's not like there's going to be junk all over the place," she said. "I'm not threatened by them coming in. We provide different services. I'm really not worried about it."

To spur business on Solano, the City Council passed a slew of merchant-friendly measures in December. Among them: suspending limits on restaurants, allowing businesses to stay open until 11 p.m., making it easier for businesses to acquire beer and wine licenses, and easing parking restrictions.

The changes were based in part on a survey of 1,300 residents who live in the neighborhood.

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