Letters: Oakland must do more to make waterfront attractive

"Thanks to Raymond Gallagher for highlighting the management problems that reduce patronage of Jack London Square businesses. We used to go there every Sunday morning. We'd park in a big unpaved lot on the south end and enjoy the Farmers Market. Then they started regulating and charging for parking. Produce and other food sales were replaced by vendors of T-shirts and imported junk."

"But I am loving Barbara Lee as mayor. Can't she initiate a task force of city staff, Port of Oakland officials and community stakeholders to bring the fun back to Jack London Square? Start with easy parking and good security. Then, how about family-oriented activities like free rides for kids on the water taxi? A local musicians' showcase? History walks? Let's make our waterfront attractive again."

"The author of the opinion piece, Raymond Gallagher, is correct in his writing; however, he should not have closed the Walnut Creek Scott's Seafood Restaurant. There is more need than ever before for a Scott's back in Walnut Creek - for a restaurant, banquet and party facilities business. Walnut Creek has become a "foodie" destination - I'm sure you've noticed. Scott's would be warmly welcomed back in Walnut Creek, and try to acquire your former location with free valet parking as before."

Jack London Square faces declining patronage linked to new parking fees, vendor shifts from produce to souvenir goods, and unresponsive management. Proposed remedies include a mayor-led task force of city staff, Port of Oakland officials, and community stakeholders to address parking and security and to program family-oriented events such as free water taxi rides for children, local musician showcases, and history walks. Community members express demand to reopen Scott's Seafood in Walnut Creek as a restaurant and banquet venue with valet parking. Additional commentary calls for multipronged fixes to the state budget, beginning with a legislative special session.

Read at The Mercury News