Resurrect Telegraph
Plans to resurrect Berkeley’s Telgraph Avenue
http://www.abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=local&id=4171894
Just off the U.C. Berkeley campus, what once was the bustling center of the free speech and anti-war movements is now struggling to survive. Stores along Berkeley’s famous stretch of Telegraph Avenue between Bancroft Way and Parker Street are reporting declining sales — but city leaders have a plan to resurrect the area.
I bet, hell will freeze over before they will be able to do anything to Telegraph. The ever-ready chorus of potheads and bums from People’s Parl will not miss out on the action: how can anyone dare to tarnish the holy grail of the ‘Free Speech’? I swear, every time I hear ‘Free Speach’ mentioned in connection with Berkeley, I want to puke.
The apparent image problem is hurting business. Cody’s Books announced its impending closure earlier in the week, and others stores are hoping they won’t be next.
All of the problems can be summarized in short: too many bums, not enough real customers. Cafe ‘Berlin Wall’ had to close, because its clientelle consisted of twenty punks that did nothing but sit in front of the entrance drinking one cup of coffee all day. I don’t remeber anyone among my friends who enjoyed going there and sharing the space with those guys. Cody’s is closing because students don’t want to be raped on book prices and buy most of them online. A lot of the folks who patronize Cody’s look, like they came straight from People’s Park. They don’t buy there, but rather hang out and read fresh newspapers. After all, where else, but not in the ‘former first aid station amidsts protests on Telegraph during… that’s right, you guessed it - the ubiqutious Free Speach movement.
Cisco Devries is the mayor’s chief of staff, and he says the city has a plan to turn things around. Not only have they doubled the number of police officers on this stretch of Telegraph, but they’ve ordered new cleaning machines that will be used exclusively on the avenue.
Maybe they should first round up all the bums and punks who hang out at Homie Bonanza Central (otherwise known as Telegraph and People’s Park). A lof of them aren’t locals, but rather travel to Berkeley from all over the country, because of the city’s leniency towards homies. Next, they should pave over the park itself and build a student dorm there. Good luck - it has been debated for a decade now, I believe, without any luck.
The city also plans to devote more resources to help the homeless, and will soon launch a marketing campaign with the university to promote the area as a dining and shopping destination.
Right. ‘Fat Slice’ and ‘Blondie’s Pizza’ are two premiere, five star dining destinations. What could possible top those two? Oh, let me guess, the Asian Ghetto Food Court. Nah, probably not. Gipsie’s Trattoria? Maybe not either. The fact is, the best food you can get around Telegraph is student cafeteria, but unfortunately it’s off limits to the tourists. Bummer.
While regulars welcome improvements, they also hope nothing takes away from the spirit of Telegraph. Nicole Hall, Vallejo resident: “It’s diverse. You don’t see the same thing twice in Berkeley ever on Telegraph — ever.”
Yeah, if they have to remove all the pot dealers, incent burning tables from the sidewalks, and that drunk guy with the Taro cards on the corner, the spirit of Telegraph will be gone. No doubt about it.