[0:00] The time is 7.38. This is a special or this is a regular meeting of the city of Emoryville as successor agency to the Emoryville redevelopment agency. Madam Clerk, I'd like to note that all members are still seated from the previous meeting. Now is the time to approve the final agenda. Do we have a motion?

[0:21] I'll agenda.

[0:24] Madam Clerk the roll.

[0:26] Councilmember.

[0:27] Councilmember Solomon.

[0:29] Councilmember Welch.

[0:31] Vice Mayor Car.

[0:32] Hi.

[0:32] And Mayor Mora.

[0:34] Hi.

[0:34] Motion carries.

[0:35] Now is the time for X-partate communications.

[0:37] Members, do you have any X-partate communications to report?

[0:41] Seeing and hearing none.

[0:42] Now is the time for public comment for the consent agenda or items not on the agenda.

[0:48] If there are any members of the public who'd like to comment on the consent agenda or items on the agenda,

[0:54] you can come to the podium. You'll have two minutes. Welcome.

[1:00] And this is for the regular meeting or not the successor.

[1:05] This is for the successor agency.

[1:07] Okay, so then we're going to adjourn and then have a regular meeting.

[1:11] That's correct.

[1:12] Okay, so I would just recommend that those who would like their comments heard,

[1:16] wait until we're done with this and then the regular meeting.

[1:21] You're also afraid to comment now proceed.

[1:24] Good evening Mayor and Council.

[1:26] My name is Impress, a lifelong Emoryville native.

[1:30] A proud alum of Annie Yates and Emoryville Child Development Center,

[1:35] with some are spent at the Emoryville Pool.

[1:37] I hold a BFA from Patient University and a Master's from NYU,

[1:42] bringing that same creativity and discipline into my work

[1:45] as an artist and baker and community mentor.

[1:48] Today, I am the owner of Chocolate Mama Cookie Co at the Emory.

[1:53] A creative community driven space where I sell pre-packaged cookies

[1:57] that are all produced in a licensed commercial kitchen in San Francisco,

[2:00] as well as art and retail gifts produced by Bay Area locals.

[2:05] It is not a restaurant.

[2:08] It is a small local business built with love, integrity, and deep respect

[2:12] for the community I serve.

[2:13] Recently, false statements were made about me, claiming I run a restaurant and host parties that is simply untrue.

[2:22] The photo used to support those claims was actually taken at the city's own harvest festival, a public celebration meant to bring us together.

[2:31] As someone who has grown up in Emoryville, and now operates at local business, I believe deeply in its vision of being a vibrant, sustainable, and healthy community for all.

[2:42] As a long time resident and entrepreneur, I want to contribute to that vision for all generations.

[2:49] I'm asking for partnership for the opportunity to share my story, clear the record,

[2:54] and work with the city to ensure that creative ethical small businesses can thrive

[2:59] without fear or misrepresentation.

[3:03] Thank you for listening and for your service and for giving me the space to speak.

[3:07] Thank you for your comment.

[3:10] Are there any other members of the public who would like to comment, you can come to the podium, you'll have two minutes.

[3:21] Julie, there's a high requirement for this podium.

[3:25] Mr. Mayor, Ms. Vice Mayor and members of the City Council.

[3:27] I appreciate the opportunity to speak here today.

[3:30] My name is Charles Orlando.

[3:31] I'm a resident of Emoryville, and I reside in the building directly next door to chocolate mama cooking company.

[3:38] There are over 33 million small businesses in the United States, which constitute over 90% of all U.S. businesses, employing nearly half the private workforce.

[3:48] California has over 4.2 small businesses, the 4.2 million small businesses, representing upwards of 95% of all companies in the state, employing more than 7 million workers.

[3:59] Chocolate Mama Cooking Cafe is one of those economically critical businesses.

[4:06] These same California small businesses create a community through local engagement, through

[4:11] economic support, and by providing spaces for connection that create and foster a welcoming

[4:16] personalized atmosphere that go beyond typical commercial interactions.

[4:21] In the short time, the cafe has been there.

[4:23] The cafe and its owners and staff have provided all this and much more.

[4:26] They are not only representative of a destination of diversity, but also embody the first

[4:32] business within the Hubbard Street area that not only provide a service, but also connection.

[4:38] A connection that in my humble opinion is vitally needed, not only in this area, but also during this

[4:43] time of global disconnection and uncertainty. Further, the outdoor seating area has been a pleasure

[4:49] for me and my family personally, but I would strongly emphasize that it is not an aesthetic upgrade.

[4:55] It's an investment in community life and local economic resilience.

[5:00] Or, how most importantly, it aligns with Emreville's own general plan. When it calls for an unparasing slightly here, vibrant, walkable neighborhoods where residents can live, work, and gather in shared spaces. This cafe directly fulfills that goal. It's located in a live work zone, designed to encourage small businesses, creative enterprises, and local gathering spots that knit together residential and commercial life.

[5:27] Thank you for your comment.

[5:31] are there any other members of the public?

[5:36] Welcome, you have two minutes.

[5:38] Would you be in Mayo and in the council member?

[5:41] I'm defied out when I'm press. And press was raised on

[5:46] groom in every wheel here. When we have shouting

[5:49] Williams, when there are a lot of companies, yes,

[5:53] pre-nout most smoke in the seat of every wheel. Every wheel has come in long way.

[5:59] They have Tony Jabra, they are now a community of vibrant businesses, small businesses.

[6:04] I'm appealing to the mayor and the customer to look deeply into the allegations,

[6:11] brought it against a press cop shockulet mammocopy.

[6:16] And now we are peels, solidly, and stand behind a press.

[6:20] Choculet coffee that is a vibrant community enterprise that brings people together.

[6:27] Thank you very much.

[6:27] Thank you for your comment.

[6:34] Welcome, you have two minutes.

[6:35] Reading, my name is Tracy Biel Borden and I am the owner of

[6:39] Exotic Links and Body Essentials. I am located at

[6:43] In, at Empresses location, 43 10 Hubbard.

[6:48] I myself and my grandson who is 18 months old has a business there.

[6:53] Leo's tribe has clothing. Stuff that is brought in for the community.

[6:58] we appreciate the ability to be in this place.

[7:03] This is Sacred Land.

[7:05] I am a native in my 50s and this has been

[7:09] this is Sacred Land, as all I can say.

[7:12] And as an Afro-Indigenous woman or artist,

[7:16] a community member, activists in this community,

[7:19] I can chose to be here with Empress

[7:21] because I know exactly what it is

[7:25] that this community has been asking for, I know what it needs, and we just felt like,

[7:31] if this was the perfect place to be in, I do have to say that because of the accusations,

[7:37] I have been there recently in midst of some of the problems, and we have had police calls.

[7:43] I was there at an incident when we had three officers, three guns, and three tasers brought

[7:49] That's one event where we were doing nothing but other than existing on land that is sacred.

[7:56] We do have to remember this is only land and we are giving what it is that the community

[8:01] is asking for and all we are is existing, bringing business to the city and every

[8:06] view because most of us have been here.

[8:08] We have lived here and we have existed here and all we want to do is exist.

[8:12] Thank you.

[8:13] Thank you.

[8:22] Welcome.

[8:22] You have two minutes.

[8:23] good evening. This is both a professional and a private matter that brings me here tonight.

[8:29] I've known Empress over 20 years now.

[8:34] And in the time that I've known her, we were a group

[8:37] of entrepreneurs. Her style is makeup parties, bakers, actors, all these things. I am a resident

[8:44] of the area. I've been at the Emirates since they opened up and started leasing apartments.

[8:48] And I was so happy that Empress and her sister and another barber friend of mine,

[8:55] they all do the, they all occupied the live work spaces.

[8:59] That's amazing because 20 years ago, we didn't know that this is where we would be.

[9:04] We're in happy places, happy space, professionally, and personally, and it's kind of

[9:10] of in rude that the parties that are complaining about this really has no merit has no

[9:20] weight.

[9:21] And if I could add one piece of information or detail, there were very, very hostile

[9:29] towards what the lady just said before me said, we were just simply existing.

[9:34] And they called the police and they're very rude and they play loud music and they're hostile

[9:38] and if you can say, pass up their grasp but they were just aggressive, it was rude and I

[9:43] just hope that this can just go away and dissolve and let her business and our entrepreneurship

[9:48] exists.

[9:49] Thank you.

[9:50] Thank you.

[9:56] Welcome.

[9:59] Hi.

[10:00] My name is Ashley Williams, the owner and head real star of vast amount of coffee. Nicole had real star of red bay coffee. One of the few black women that is real seen in the bay area. I just wanted to say as a frequent collaborator with chocolate momma cookie. This space isn't just about cookies. It's about community, creativity and connection. It serves as a hub for our neighbors and for our young entrepreneurs.

[10:27] we're all parents, so bringing our children here to see us, grow this business and build this

[10:34] legacy is very important to us in building the future, which is a main catchphrase of

[10:40] Chocolate Mama is welcome to the future. Some talk to some of the people who have main accusation

[10:49] have talked about protecting artists, but real inclusion is welcoming every kind of artist

[10:55] and give us space to all voices to thrive.

[10:58] We invite everyone to visit, experience a space,

[11:02] fill what we're building,

[11:04] because real community is in build by closing doors,

[11:07] is built by opening hearts

[11:08] and pulling more chairs to the table.

[11:10] So please come down to chocolate mama cookie all of you.

[11:14] And just so you know, we've also were able to obtain

[11:17] 100 signatures from residents who are saying

[11:20] that they love what we're doing,

[11:22] and that they're happy that this year,

[11:24] more welcome to share that with you if you like. Thank you. Thank you.

[11:30] Are there any other

[11:31] members of the public who would like to speak?

[11:35] Welcome. Good evening Mayor Vice Mayor and council

[11:39] members. My name is Latrice McNeely. I'm a neuromuscular therapist, medical massage clinician

[11:44] and my art is healing. I also operate the space that chocolate mama cookie co. And I'm here

[11:52] today because of false claims that have been made about our space, that right in our ability

[11:56] to work, serve the community and remain housed. To be clear, chocolate mama cookie co

[12:02] is not a restaurant. We do not operate a kitchen. She sells prepackaged vegan big goods,

[12:09] Lisa's coffee. As you heard, our other sister friend owns a retail company that she uses this

[12:20] for. And Empress is a culinary artist with her vegan cookies. Unfortunately, like I said,

[12:28] there are false claims made, and all we are are a black women-led, artist-led, and community

[12:33] care-led, and everything we do. Unfortunately,

[12:40] there are some people with social and professional

[12:42] privilege that have submitted misleading and exaggerated complaints, excuse me, in an effort

[12:50] to push us out.

[12:51] These claims are not rooted in any type of documented harm or safety concern.

[12:56] They reflect bias and exclusion, particularly toward black women culturally present to

[13:02] share a creative space.

[13:03] We are good neighbors.

[13:05] We operate legally, respectfully, and transparently.

[13:08] We contribute to the well-being, identity, and cultural vibrancy of M. Reville.

[13:13] I'm just asking the council to ensure that decisions are based on facts and not personal

[13:18] discomfort and that black women that businesses are not displaced through targeted complaints.

[13:24] We are here to build community, not disrupt it. We are here to heal,

[13:29] create and support resilience in the city. We are simply asking for the right to continue existing

[13:35] and contributing to the shared cultural life of the Emory and the City of Emoryville.

[13:40] Thank you for your consideration. Thank you for your comment.

[13:50] Because evening council members, my name is Momik Nielian, here today, it's speaking strong

[13:55] support of Choclamama Kakey, company in American owned business that has become an

[14:01] invaluable part of the Emoryville community, cafe as a space of culture and joy.

[14:08] It's exactly the kind of local businesses we should be nurturing and protecting.

[14:14] Recently a complaint was filed against the cafe centered on amongst other things music being

[14:19] during normal business hours, the situation escalated when the neighbors took the step of calling the police.

[14:25] The irony here is I have video evidence showing those same neighbors playing loud music themselves directly in response to the cafe's music.

[14:33] Further escalating situation and undermining the very noise complaint that they lodged.

[14:38] This creates a troubling double standard.

[14:40] The actions of these neighbors not only make the complaint filter tallyatory, but also highlight a broader issue.

[14:46] When businesses are treated as disturbances,

[14:48] for simply existing in their own space,

[14:50] it's a form of cultural erasure.

[14:53] In addition, it doesn't feel good that photos are being taken

[14:55] of patrons in the cafe without the consent,

[14:58] our community is far...

[15:00] Finally asserting our reasonable expectation of privacy and a right to know the use of the 10 of any images taken.

[15:06] And how those videos and images are being used, this constitutes harassment.

[15:11] To fill in your pattern of gentrification, we're communicating cultural expression, our silence in favor of a more homogenous, quieter environment that pushes out diversity.

[15:21] Chaplain on a cookie co located at 4310 Hubbard provides more than just the service.

[15:28] It's a vital community hub. I urge discounts to recognize the importance of supporting

[15:33] businesses like this. This is that bring life and color. The cafe deserves to be protected

[15:39] and not targeted. I ask that you stand with Kay and Day and her business and make it clear

[15:46] that Emeryville will not be tolerating any silence

[15:49] of culture, or targeting our American own businesses.

[15:53] You can also support by coming yourselves.

[15:56] Thank you.

[15:57] Thank you.

[16:02] Seeing no additional public comment,

[16:05] we will now move to the consent calendar.

[16:07] Members, do we have a motion on the consent calendar?

[16:10] Motion to approve.

[16:12] Second.

[16:12] Madam clerk, the roll.

[16:14] That's a member of the private force.

[16:16] Aye.

[16:16] That's a member of Solomon.

[16:17] That's a member of Welch, aye.

[16:19] Vice Mayor Carr.

[16:19] Hi, and Mayor Moira. Hi, motion carries. The time is 7.54 this meeting is adjourned.

Successor Agency Regular Meeting

Agenda

Transcript