FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

More than 500 Oakland Residents Say No to McDonald’s

OAKLAND, CA, April 8, 2004 (GGL) -- Last night, more than 500 residents of the Grand Lake section of Oakland filled the Lakeshore Baptist Church to tell Ronald McDonald that he is not welcome in their neighborhood.

The standing room only crowd was passionately united in its opposition to the proposed conversion of the Kwik Way Drive-In on Lake Park Avenue to a McDonald’s franchise. One by one, residents rose from the packed pews to express their concerns to Walter Cathey, McDonald’s real estate manager and Bobby Haynes, a local franchise operator. Issues ranged from pedestrian safety, to excess litter, to poor food quality, to corporate globalization. Haynes seemed quite surprised at the high turnout.

Clara Roberts, principal of Lakeview Elementary School, spoke about the already hazardous intersection that children face everyday on their way to and from school, and how the increased traffic would pose even more danger.

“As someone who has been involved in neighborhood activism for 15 years, last night represented the high point,” said Maggie Kostoff, of the Greater Grand Lake Action Coalition. “I was impressed by the incredibly diverse group of citizens--including nurses, artists, and local shop owners--who expressed themselves, each with their own individual brand of passion and determination.”

In one of the evening’s most compelling moments, Wendy Wittmann remembered her first job at a McDonald’s, exclaiming, “It sucked!”

“I've been despairing of late that people are just too apathetic to get involved in politics and public policy. Last night proved me wrong. People do care, a lot. And, with the right issue and effort, they can even be mobilized to make a difference. I feel proud to live in such a great community,” said resident Matt Newman.

Coalition members presented representatives from McDonald’s with more than 2,200 signatures gathered on petitions in just less than two weeks, expressing their opposition to a McDonald’s restaurant.

Oakland City Council Members Danny Wan and Nancy Nadel attended and both spoke in support of the residents’ position. Representatives for Jane Bruner and Jean Quan were also in attendance.

For more information, contact:

Michele Simon, Center for Informed Food Choice
510-465-0322; Michele@informedeating.org

Visit: www.greatergrandlake.org