[Bboa-members] RE: Marina Security

[Lois]

I've been on this mailing list since the beginning, reading everyone's comments, complaints and suggestions.
   
  Now I'm wondering if the City of Berkeley has penalized us for complaining about rent increases by eliminating the police presence that we used to have.
   
  It does not look like this marina is in any position to build a guard shack or even hire a security guard when the city has recently decided that we don't even warrant police patrol.  
   
  The city has many reasons to raise the berth rents, one of which no one has ever mentioned:  this marina has no trouble finding willing berthers if some of us leave for Richmond or the Oakland Estuary or wherever the rents may be a little cheaper.  The rents are still cheap enough here to be competitive, and this is one of the best sailing marinas in the bay -- and it's very underutilized.  
   
  I imagine the marina would like to say good bye to some of the less serious boaters (who let their boats float for years in a mildewed state) and encourage the real sailors who take good care of their boats to move in.
   
  Even on the slight chance that the city were to raise fees so much that several berths were vacant, they'd still win by having fewer boats to move around when the docks are rebuilt!
   
  I remember seeing the officer sitting at the entrance to the marina at night, and another one patrolling the parking lots.  I miss them.  We had lots of break-ins and car thefts then, and more now.  At my parking lot, I see broken window glass in a different parking place every week, sometimes more than once a week.  Ask around, and you'll find out that break-ins happen even in broad daylight here all the time.
   
  I've had my car stolen from here once, and broken into more than once.  Here's my only advice: use a club on your steering wheel.  It will prevent theft, and it even prevents break-ins, since the thieves think you're savvy and won't be leaving anything valuable in your car.
   
  Honestly, this is the only suggestion I have, unless you prefer another marina that has less wind or better amenities.
   
  Happy sailing . . .
   
   

 		
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