The Wood Street Journal: July 2019

A tale of two cities:
Alameda 7/4/19 …

…Washington DC, 7/4/19

Alameda boasts that its 3.3 mile July 4th parade route is the longest in the country, and as the Alameda Sun points out, "no other municipality has been able to prove otherwise — even Washington D.C." On the other hand, we lag far behind DC in the display of military hardware: while Trump feted the capital with tanks and flyovers, the island had to content itself with one obsolete, decommissioned fighter plane. But it's hard to imagine any American city surpassing us in community spirit. It's us on parade, classic cars and bicycles and motorcycles, neighborhoods, local businesses, the mayor and city council, etc. And it's us watching, rows along the sidewalk, cheering as the spirit moves us. On a perfect island summer day, pleasantly warm, blue skies with wisps of clouds, and totally offline, you needed to be there and be part of it to get it.

The Special Olympics turned 50 today!Narlisha: "I got involved 15 years ago when I moved to
Alameda with my daughter Adiyah, who is now 22. The
next sport on the yearly calendar is bowling."

Sikh Riders of America

Our parade may also have been one of the bluest, in keeping with our change of complexion from what you may remember from days of yore. Consider diversity. There were contingents of girl scouts, boy scouts, and drag queens. There were groups celebrating their Italian, Korean, Sikh and Chinese heritage. The Coast Guard was there, as were the Golden Gate Young Marines, and organizations devoted to the performing and visual arts. And then there was the excitement about the big election looming next year.

Island Fantasy Drag Show

Truthfully, I was hoping to talk to local Republicans. They do exist, and I

Golden Gate Young Marines
Jason, who has a gentle manner, has been a
Marine for 30 years. "We encourage the kids
to go to college, and then enlist afterwards
if they want to. I got involved in 2008
after my son sent me a postcard. He's a M
Marine now."

wanted to get their views on island politics after the bitterly contested special election April 9. The voters decided then that Alameda would provide additional homeless services, rejecting a campaign that portrayed diseased hordes of the homeless swarming across our drawbridges much as Trump sees the migrant caravans descending on the US border. But alas, there was no visible Republican presence at the parade.

Bernie impersonator leading contingent

Bernie contingent with bubbles

I'd also hoped to see supporters of several Democratic Presidential contenders, to gauge their grass roots strength; surely native daughter Kamala

Jesue: "Bernie did well in the debate,
and he'll do even better when the
candidates thin out and has more time"

Harris, crowned one of the winners in the first round of debates, must have a presence. But she did not, nor did any of the others except for Bernie.

In fact, the Berniecrats were one of the largest contingents in the parade, enthusiastic and diverse. They also had a flair for theatrics that took risks and seemed to pay off. They were led by a line walking six abreast, each holding a placard with a letter in Bernie's name, preceded by a Bernie impersonator talking into a microphone, and a guy on a bicylcle spraying bubbles. The impersonator spoke lines such as that it was time for college to be free; for Medicare for all; and for realizing that you're not really free if you can't afford to retire. At first it reminded me of the worst part of anti-war protests back in the day, when we were

Sherryl, a social worker for Bemie,with husband.
"People who don't know Kamala Harris like her
because of who she is. I know, I moved here
from Denver 3 years ago, and that would have
been my first thoughts. I like Bernie because
of his ideas. I'm a social worker, and
that explains a lot."

asked to chant in unison. But they weren't asking anyone to chant, just to let the ideas resonate, and they did strike a chord. There were cheers and waves from the onlookers, and at one point even a brief "Bernie, Bernie" chant. I wouldn't say they got as many cheers as the girl scout contingent that followed them, throwing candy to the onlookers, but it was close. Base on today, the pols and polls that rate the Democratic contenders may be overlooking crucial factors like enthusiasm, and the power of ideas whose time has come. — ©µ 2019

Blue Star Mom with picture of son. Son was at Ft. Bragg NC,
is now at Ft. Benning GA, and will soon be deployed to Iraq. "We
get together every month at Zion Lutheran in Oakland, and
assemble car packages for service members and vets."