Letters to the Editor for August 1, 2025

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The Alameda Art and Wine Faire and the Neptune Beach Surf Club

Is the Art & Wine Faire is leaving nonprofits behind?

To the Editor:

I am writing to express my disappointment in the Downtown Alameda Business Association and its policies toward nonprofit organizations and the Alameda Art and Wine Faire. Each year it has become more and more difficult for nonprofits to secure a spot at the Faire. As a result, many nonprofits were left out entirely this year.

I understand that this is a money-making event for the Business Association, but I am dismayed that it appears to put profits over community participation. The Faire is an opportunity to build community by acknowledging and celebrating the role our nonprofits play in our community. And it is our community that supports downtown Alameda businesses year-round. Today that is more important than ever. I hate to see the Business Association taking the route of corporate America and putting profits over people.

Linda Bytof
Alameda

Proposed new surf park is costly and doesn’t expand wildlife habitat

To the Editor:

Golden Gate Bird Alliance is dedicated to conserving and restoring wildlife habitats, connecting people of all ages and backgrounds with the natural world, and educating and engaging Bay Area residents in the protection of our shared, local environment. We represent 7,000 members and supporters who are dedicated to the protection of birds and wildlife in the Bay Area.

The location of Enterprise Park next to San Francisco Bay offers a unique opportunity in this dense urban environment to expand the natural environment and to connect more people with the rhythms of nature. The proposal for a commercial surf park in Enterprise Park ^[2] limits our opportunity to advocate for expanded natural habitat during a master planning process for the entire park.

Habitat loss is the leading cause of bird population declines. Despite the Bay Area’s dense urban landscape, pockets of critical habitat remain, along with opportunities for enhancement, such as parks where native plants can be the dominant vegetation.

We are also concerned about this much space in this public park being dedicated to a form of recreation that is costly to enjoy. Part of our mission is to advocate for a world where all people and programs will be welcoming, inclusive, and equitable, reflecting the racial, cultural, and economic diversity of the Bay Area. We advocate for greater access to parks and nature preserves for groups that are underrepresented, such as persons with disabilities, the economically disadvantaged, and the elderly. Given the limited user group this facility would be designed for, we question whether this surf pool enterprise is the best use of this public shoreline space.

For the above-stated reasons, therefore, we are opposed to the City of Alameda leasing space to this surf pool developer before a thorough master planning process for the entire park is carried out.

Sincerely,

Glenn Phillips
Executive Director, Golden Gate Bird Alliance