A recent posting claimed that the Walgreen's at Park and Tilden Way is closing owing to Proposition 47. Exactly where is the evidence to support that claim? Not hearsay, mind you, but EVIDENCE.
When the Chevrolet dealer closed and its property was slated for "developing," Walgreen's announced its intent to build there. At the time, my wife and I both opined (opinions are not facts, by the way) that this was a poor location for such a store. There would not be another major store in the area (the Marketplace does not count because of its differing clientele) and the store would have to survive on its own. Think about it. The South Shore Walgreen's, despite its less than attractive appearance, is within a major shopping area. As far as upper Park Street is concerned, we can't even get anything built on the site of the former camera store and the dry cleaners, and that is basically just across the street. So the only other local businesses are Angela's (please support it), another fast food outlet, and a convenience store of dubious quality across the street. Then there's also Oil Changers on Lincoln, a small business on the corner, and an overpriced gas station diagonally opposite.
So please don't tell us (without any supportive evidence) that Proposition 47, or 13, or 265, or Q, or whatever, is responsible for what was fundamentally a poor business decision. I will miss that store, but better it should have been near the new Safeway at the old Navy Base.
Find out what's happening in Alamedafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
As to that same writer's harangue about the homeless encampment in the shadow of the Constitution Way overpass, let me first say that I agree that it is an extremely unpleasant sight. But let me also say that homelessness is not against the law. It might also well be that at least some of those residents at one time had real lodging in this city, having lost their homes because of the onset of the newest depression, two conditions that we as a country seem unwilling to face.
I am not posting this article to lure the Patch's troll community into an argument. Opinions are not more important than facts, and if my conclusions about Walgreen's and the homeless encampment draw argument, let that argument be based on demonstrable facts. There are no true or false facts. Facts are true, whether you like them or not.