Bay Area

Small Business Owners Step Up for First Responders

Published

5 years ago

April 9, 2020

After a nurse-friend who works at Kaiser Vacaville shared the difficulties of serving on the COVID-19 front lines, Jennifer Arrouzet, who co-owns Café Soleil in El Sobrante with her husband Todd, worked her community contacts to round up hundreds of Clorox wipes and sanitizer spray bottles to donate to nurses at the medical center.

She didn’t stop there. She secured 5,000 N-95 masks and 20,000 gloves purchased for donation by a former neighbor, Tom Bolling, who knew Jennifer would find a good place for them.

The San Pablo Police Department picked up 1,000 masks, leaving with the promise that they’d share them with the Richmond Police Department, Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department, San Pablo Fire Department and El Sobrante Fire Department—which they did.

Another 3,000 masks will be dispersed by Jennifer’s business to Kaiser Vacaville and Kaiser Richmond today via her nurse-friend. She’s saving the remaining 1,000 masks to give to any other first responders who need them in an emergency situation and donated the gloves to local police and Kaiser Vacaville.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, local small businesses that are facing an uncertain future are still finding creative ways to support first responders.

San Pablo police and city officials have received donations of food and additional personal protective equipment from local businesses such as Maya Thai Laos Restaurant, La Strada Restaurant, FoodMaxx, and Krispy Krunchy Chicken, said San Pablo police Capt. Brian Bubar. Bubar thanked the San Pablo EDC for providing support and connections for both small businesses and first responders.

This week, Abraham Alex, owner of Krispy Krunchy Chicken in Pinole, began delivering chicken to police, calling law enforcement “the backbone that keeps it all together.

“We in business must do our part for them,” he said, adding that his business is also looking to donate to individuals and families in need.

In turn, police are doing their part to support local businesses. Last week, a San Pablo police sergeant bought 13 members of his team lunch at La Strada on Church Lane, which is offering takeout during the pandemic. The gesture deeply touched the Italian restaurant’s 24-year owner, Martin Gonzalez.

Right then, Gonzalez decided to offer 20 percent discounts for all first responders.

“Everybody is struggling here, we are all in the boat,” Gonzales said. “There are no words to express having the support of the San Pablo Police Department to help keep our doors open.”

All in the same boat indeed. Small business owners and their staff are enduring an uncertain future after having to close their doors due to the COVID-19 lockdown. Many restaurants are relying solely on takeout or delivery or simply shutting down for the time being.

At the start of the shelter-in-place order, however, small business owners like Jennifer and Todd Arrouzet appeared more worried about their staff and the community than their personal survival.

“I just saw a need, and it was desperate, and I acted,” Jennifer said, noting that she didn’t think anybody was prepared for the pandemic. “It’s so heartbreaking to see any first responder have to go through this. They can’t say, ‘no, I’m not coming in,’ and they’re human, just like us. That’s my drive.”

In addition to the donations of supplies to first responders, Jennifer created “Essential Packages” that customers can purchase for $40 from Café Soleil at 3550 San Pablo Dam Rd. The packages, which can be used by the purchaser or donated, include three pounds of chicken, one dozen eggs, one gallon of milk, one loaf of bread, one pound of flour/risotto/sugar, three pounds of red potatoes and one sanitizer spray bottle (while supplies last). The packages can be picked up or delivered.

“My attitude from day one of this virus has been that if we can’t be at our best during the worst of times, what’s the point? We need to be kind. Everybody is suffering and I feel that. I’m just trying to set an example…If anyone is suffering or in need, call me,” said Jennifer.

“I’ve always believed that if you take care of your community and your people, you don’t need to worry about the rest. It will be ok,” she added.

Capt. Bubar echoed the sentiment.

“We are thankful of the words of encouragement we’ve received within the community and our social media platforms,” the captain said. “As first responders, our staff understands the responsibility to come to work every day and face this challenge head-on. As difficult as this can be, we are here knowing our community recognizes and appreciates that challenge. We will get through this together.”

Kathy Chouteau and Mike Kinney

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Activism

U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries Speaks on Democracy at Commonwealth Club

Based on his first speech as House minority leader, “The ABCs of Democracy” by Grand Central Publishing is an illustrated children’s book for people of all ages. Each letter contrasts what democracy is and isn’t, as in: “American Values over Autocracy”, “Benevolence over Bigotry” and “The Constitution over the Cult.”

Published

5 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Oakland Post

: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries at the Commonwealth Club World Affairs Council on Dec. 2. Photo by Johnnie Burrell. Book cover: "The ABCs of Democracy" by Hakeem Jeffries.

By Linda Parker Pennington
Special to The Post

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries addressed an enthusiastic overflow audience on Monday at San Francisco’s Commonwealth Club, launching his first book, “The ABCs of Democracy.”

Based on his first speech as House minority leader, “The ABCs of Democracy” by Grand Central Publishing is an illustrated children’s book for people of all ages.

Each letter contrasts what democracy is and isn’t, as in: “American Values over Autocracy”, “Benevolence over Bigotry” and “The Constitution over the Cult.”

Less than a month after the election that will return Donald Trump to the White House, Rep. Jeffries also gave a sobering assessment of what the Democrats learned.

“Our message just wasn’t connecting with the real struggles of the American people,” Jeffries said. “The party in power is the one that will always pay the price.”

On dealing with Trump, Jeffries warned, “We can’t fall into the trap of being outraged every day at what Trump does. That’s just part of his strategy. Remaining calm in the face of turmoil is a choice.”

He pointed out that the razor-thin margin that Republicans now hold in the House is the lowest since the Civil War.

Asked what the public can do, Jeffries spoke about the importance of being “appropriately engaged. Democracy is not on autopilot. It takes a citizenry to hold politicians accountable and a new generation of young people to come forward and serve in public office.”

With a Republican-led White House, Senate, House and Supreme Court, Democrats must “work to find bi-partisan common ground and push back against far-right extremism.”

He also described how he is shaping his own leadership style while his mentor, Speaker-Emeritus Nancy Pelosi, continues to represent San Francisco in Congress. “She says she is not hanging around to be like the mother-in-law in the kitchen, saying ‘my son likes his spaghetti sauce this way, not that way.’”

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Oakland Post: Week of December 18 – 24, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of December 18 – 24, 2024

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

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Activism

City of Oakland Celebrates Reopening of Main Library

“Libraries are such critical facilities for all Oaklanders, whether it’s children coming to story-time, adults reading the newspapers or borrowing the latest novels, and people engaging with a range of services and programs that the library hosts,” said Council President and District 2 Councilmember Nikki Fortunato Bas. “Such library services and programs are only possible when the facility’s electricity, heating, roof, and lighting are fixed and running efficiently. I’m proud to join this re-opening of our Main Public Library.”

Published

4 days ago

December 18, 2024

Oakland Post

Left to Right- Jamie Turbak, Director of Library Services, LaTonda Simmons, Assistant City Administrator, Nikki Bas, President Oakland City Council, Shen Thao, Mayor of Oakland, Carroll Fife, Oakland City Councilmember District 3, Harold Duffey, Assistant City Administrator, Sean Maher, Projects Coordinator. Photo by Kevin Hicks.

The branch had been closed since May for critical infrastructure upgrades

Special to the Post

The City of Oakland leadership and community partners gathered to celebrate the reopening of the Main Library after completion of critical infrastructure upgrades to enhance the library’s facilities and provide a better experience for patrons.

Renovations include new roof installation, skylight repair, critical electrical system upgrades, new boiler control system installation, auditorium heating and cooling system installation, and improvements to lighting, flooring and ceilings throughout the building.

“This is truly something to celebrate, the reopening of our wonderful Main Library! I congratulate the staff and our partners for this important project to make the Main Library a more comfortable place for everyone for years to come, said Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao. “Thank you to Oakland voters and the California State Library for making these crucial improvements possible.”

“Public libraries are a wonderful resource for our residents, offering a safe space for learning and being,” said District 3 Councilmember Carroll Fife. “It is critical to improve and modernize our libraries so more members of our community can utilize and enjoy them. I’m excited that the necessary renovations to the Main Library have been completed successfully and thank everyone involved, particularly the City team, who helped secured the necessary grant funds for this work.”

“I am proud of the City staff and project partners who kept this important project on schedule and under budget,” said Assistant City Administrator G. Harold Duffey. “The library is an incredibly important resource for our community members, and this project is an investment into the library’s future.”

“December 2nd was a momentous occasion for Oakland Public Library as we proudly reopened the doors of the Main Library following extensive infrastructure repairs,” said Director of Library Services Jamie Turbak. “Closing the Main Library for six months was no easy decision, as it serves as the central hub for our library system and is truly the heart of Oakland. Yet, this renovation was essential, representing more than just physical upgrades—it reflects our ongoing commitment to creating a safe, welcoming space for everyone.”

The City Administrator Jestin Johnson also attended the press conference and signalled his support for the completion of the record-setting completion of the renovations. Gay Plair Cobb, a newly appointed Library Commissioner said the Library represents the soul and brains of our community.

The Oakland Public Library secured funding for these crititcal repairs through a variety of sources. The California State Library’s Building Forward Library Facilities Improvement Program awarded the Main Branch $4.2 million. To comply with the grant terms, the City of Oakland provided matching funds through Measures KK, as approved by the Oakland City Council in October 2023.

The Main Library will host an Open House to celebrate the reopening on February 22, 2025, 10 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

About the Oakland Public Library

The Oakland Public Library is a part of the City of Oakland in California and has been in existence since 1878. Locations include 16 neighborhood branches, a Main Library, a Second Start Adult Literacy Program, the Oakland Tool Lending Library, and the African American Museum and Library at Oakland (AAMLO). The Oakland Public Library empowers all people to explore, connect, and grow. Oaklandlibrary.org