Friday, July 20, 2007
Compelling
Yay, theft, by Randy Shaw:
Attorney Rena Rickles, the East Bay version of San Francisco's Andrew Zacks, began the hearing by disparaging Iceland's historic status and the community efforts to preserve the building. Rickles introduced the theme that a land-marked Iceland would be a public nuisance, an unfounded idea subsequently reiterated almost verbatim by Councilmembers Anderson and Moore, as well as by Mayor Bates.
In response to Rickles, Save Berkeley Iceland representative Elizabeth Grassetti gave a stirring speech in which she declared that Iceland had been built by Berkeley, for Berkeley, and still had the ability to transform the city's vision of diversity "into reality, not just a dream." Grassetti noted that Iceland brought together rich and poor, and people of all races, and that "all were equal on the ice." Which of those ideas do you think is more "unfounded"?
Olds captured the sentiment best, noting "many people are scared to see how many people really care about saving Iceland, and slapping these people down is not something I will do." Am I to understand that Betty Olds voted this way because she was scared of the advocates? That seems to be what she's saying. I wish we had government folks who would not be terrified of the idea of disappointing the loudest residents.
Olds and Wozniak are often viewed as conservatives on the Council, yet they had a far keener understanding of community building than so-called progressives like Anderson and Moore. The latter two could find no joy in this process of community togetherness, and both argued the NIMBY line that because people living near Iceland wanted it torn down, the Council should vote to do so. Wanting to tear it down was the NIMBY position? Ha! Reality is optional for these folks.
All in all, hope triumphed over fear... Not according to Olds. She says that fear won.
Iceland also had the only girls hockey team in the area, and the number of girl skaters at the hearing exceeded that of boys, showing Iceland's value in enhancing gender equity in recreational facilities. More girls! That's equity.
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