Remembering Mario Gonzalez and a request for accurate construction parking restrictions
A bench for Mario Gonzalez
To the Editor:
In the last decade, more than 1,000 people in the United States have died after police restrained them using methods that are supposed to be less lethal than firearms.
Mario Gonzalez, age 26 and father to a young son, is one of two such deaths in the city of Alameda. It is time for the City to allow a permanent memorial bench for Mario Gonzalez at the pocket park off Otis Drive and Park Street. It would serve as a powerful symbol of healing and restorative justice for the community at large.
The very first vigil for Mario, on April 21, 2021, was the same night that the Alameda police reform task forces were celebrating wrapping up their formal work. I and other task force members skipped the celebration to join in the vigil called by the family.
The case garnered headlines in prominent news outlets such as CNN, NPR, the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, BBC, Al Jazeera, The Guardian, Reuters, Associated Press, Univision, France 24, Telemundo, and Deutsche Welle. The families of Steven Taylor, Angelo Quinto, Dujuan Armstrong, Augie Gonzalez, Eric Salgado, and Ricardo Ramirez Jr., who tragically lost their loved ones at the hands of law enforcement, have all gathered at the memorial in solidarity.
Few police-involved deaths result in any level of criminal prosecution. In Mario Gonzalez’s case, criminal prosecution got further than it did in the deaths of Eric Gardner, Tamir Rice, Phillandro Castile, or Alton Sterling. Each of those cases resulted in smaller civil court settlements. Yet proximity bias has kept some from recognizing the weight of Mario’s death.
While expressions of grief, concern, and protest have taken place around the island, illuminating the side of the Alameda Theater, at the Healing Garden, at Crown Beach, and in the windows of many homes across the island, the clear community focus has been at the parklet off Otis Drive. In gatherings large and small, community members have spoken out, prayed, danced, planted flowers, and lit candles in remembrance of Mario. We have gathered on Mario’s birthday, his angelversary, important holidays and quiet moments of reflection. Hundreds of dollars have been spent at Encinal Nursery, Ploughshares Nursery, Safeway and Trader Joe’s on plants and flowers for the memorial.
For four years, the community and family have cared for the Mario Gonzalez memorial altar. A place to sit with dignity and love is not too big an ask.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Rakowski
Alameda
Parking signs on Central Avenue
To the Editor:
I am an elderly disabled woman living in an apartment building on Central Ave. It is a significant hardship for me to park blocks away then carry my groceries back home. I am being forced to do this because of the so-called public safety project that has still not begun on Central Avenue.
For the second day, the “no parking” signs are outside declaring “No parking all day from 4/28/25 to 8/1/25” but there is absolutely no work being done anywhere along our stretch of Central as of yet.
What are you people playing at?! Webster is already a nightmare due to the impact on traffic flow from the “improvements” made there. I have noticed increased red light running, probably because drivers are fed up with the stop and start, slow traffic they now contend with on that formerly useful artery into our town. Pedestrians crossing Webster are now less safe, too, as drivers don’t want to stop for them.
Shore Line has also been negatively impacted by the so-called improvements made there. Driving along that once pleasant route is now harrowing as one shares the paltry 2 lanes with large vehicles. If anyone stops in one of the 2 traffic lanes, it is truly terrifying.
Finally, bicycle riders continue to use the sidewalks on Webster. So, no safety improvement on that score either.
Please remove the no parking signs along Central until, at least, the work is actually beginning.
Regards,
C. R. Kettell
34-year resident of Alameda
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