Hayward Councilmember Francisco
Zermeno to the hungry: there’s fig and
kumquat trees near Southland Mall.
PHOTO/Zermeno for Mayor 2014
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HAYWARD | As elected officials in Hayward attempted to sidestep guilt surrounding an ordinance that ostensibly makes it much more difficult for small-scale free food providers to feed the poor in its parks, one city council member had an idea for curbing hunger in the self-proclaimed “Heart of the Bay.”
“One of the things I’ve always talked about is allowing fruit trees on our streets,” said Councilmember Francisco Zermeno, “because that certainly allows for folks to eat fruit.”
Zermeno, who is a candidate for mayor next year, said although the practice was deemed “too messy” by the city, he nonetheless gave residents suffering from hunger pains a tip for filling their empty stomachs. There’s fig and kumquat trees already teeming with fruit on a street near Hayward’s Southland Mall, he said, during Tuesday’s council meeting.
This idyllic scene of a downtrodden and hungry soul suddenly walking up to an oasis of apples, orange and plum trees along Foothill Boulevard, or any other street in Hayward, is a bit contemptible and, if plausible, would undermine the downtown merchant’s argument against the weakest among us loitering around their shops and costing them business.
In fact, the idea is already negatively tainted in the public mind by the link to homelessness. Fruit trees on city streets now signifies a bad neighborhood, homeowners might say. Conversely, those living in the poor neighborhood of Hayward would protest the likelihood of the Homeless Orchards flourishing in front of their homes as signposts for poverty.
And what of the potential for liability on the city’s part? This aspect is what Zermeno referenced Tuesday when he said past recommendations for fruit trees in Hayward were nixed by staff who envision pedestrians spraining ankles on heaps of fallen fruit. Who cleans up the apple cores that pile up next to sidewalks and streets? What about those who are not homeless, nor without money, who simply desire a healthy snack? Can they snatch a few plums off a tree on B Street? And, what to do about plum smugglers?
Zermeno is not immune to weird public statements. Last year, while running for re-election to his council seat, he lodged several bizarre populist statements against House Republicans and another against Wall Street malevolence, of which, he was compelled to write a scathing letter in protest. Neither diatribe was even remotely in context to anything the City Council was discussing those nights or any before.
Following Tuesday’s meeting, I asked a few outside what to make of Zermeno’s fruit trees comment. Many immediately confused his idea with community gardens, which are dedicated plots of land for an assortment of plants to be grown for the poor’s use. These types of gardens are quite common all over the Bay Area. However, Zermeno specifically called for fruit trees on city streets. The common reaction was then silence, a widening of the eyes and a big shrug. A big no comment that spoke loudly to its sheer goofiness.
This is a little wacky no doubt
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Definitely a wacky idea lol
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I don't like any of the candidates that are running.
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By MW:
Zermeno really ought to go fig himself.
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Just plant trees anyway. Choose less messy varieties for the specific site, and there are few coconut trees so falling fruit is of low danger here. It will be ok. Watch out for polluted soil though.Soil tests can be found at univ amhurst for $15.
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Yes. Zermeno is a sad case of the quality of our Mayoral candidates. What a clown and idiot. Hey, he has always been that way.
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This is the perfect issue to distract from the Council's unwillingness to work with the city unions on a viable contract. Let the workers eat cake.
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It seems we have nothing but nutballs in politics
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Zermeno is actually working Tony Santos on making trees that give turkey and ham sandwiches.
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PS: as Register lives in Berkeley, one can go to his website, read his interesting ideas, including one on growing fruit trees in public right of ways, and invite him to a Hayward Council meeting-I think he would come in a jiffy-Tony Santos
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not as farfetched as suggested here-Zermano on to something. Ever hear of “Richard Register?” I have his book around here somewhere-cannot think of the title, but Mr. Register suggests what is noted by the good Councilmember, so be careful attacking an idea which may not be as bad as one might make it-Tony Santos
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How about a chicken farm on the corner of A and Foothill?
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