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December 31, 2024
Vol. 24 No. 1
Is tobacco near schools too close for comfort?
Medfly crisis impacts food programs, local farms
TOBACCO RESTRICTIONS SPARK DEBATE IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES
FREMONT FOOD BANK UNABLE TO ACCEPT DONATION FROM CITY’S URBAN FARM UNTIL QUARANTINE LIFTED
By CONNIE CHEUNG California has some of the toughest tobacco laws in the country. In 2024, Newark and Union City both introduced an additional patchwork of regulations on flavored tobacco products and retail licenses. “I feel like this is a step in the right direction, but there are still lots of holes, and it’s a much weaker ordinance than what Union City has,” said a Newark parent who preferred to remain anonymous because her kids “don’t want their parents to be associated with ratting them out.” Concerned about her hometown’s historically lax tobacco policies compared to neighboring cities, the parent remains frustrated by the presence of a vape shop in the shopping complex across from her son’s school. Like other locals, she advocates for more limitations on retailer proximity to youth or sensitive areas, as well as caps on issuing new tobacco licenses and transferring existing ones. “I’m not proposing [the shop] should be shut down, but the ordinance should be written in a way such that once the owner is ready to sell the business, it should not be replaced with another tobacco store,” she said. This perspective pits parents and advocacy groups directly against local businesses. “Nearly 32% of convenience store in-store sales come from tobacco, with e-cigarettes contributing significantly,” wrote a Union City business owner earlier this year, arguing that stringent limitations would only hurt the local economy. Another resident pleaded passionately at a 2024 January city council meeting to leave tobacco licenses alone: “If we can’t sell our business, that’s my dad’s retirement.” Shop owners argue that excessive restrictions on tobacco products will only fuel a black market. Some media outlets have reported the proliferation of goods online, while others tell stories of six-figures worth of vapes being confiscated from drug dealers allegedly selling to middle school kids. One proprietor of a Newark smoke shop recalled meeting a parent who appeared to select cartridges for her kid: “Do you like this, or this?” the woman asked the teen. When confronted, the customer claimed she was making purchases for herself. For local retailers who play by the rules, it seems unfair to be punished with sweeping bans due to the actions of a few irresponsible people. “We’re not selling to minors,” said
Vape cartridges are cute but can hold as much nicotine as an entire pack of cigarettes. Photo titled “Pod Vape Systems” by James Dunworth, E-CigaretteDirect, shared under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License. continued on page 17
INDEX Arts & Entertainment . . . . 13 Bulletin Board . . . . . . . . . . 8 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
By PANASHE MATEMBA-
MUTASA
New business and milestones in the Tri-Cities were announced in 2024, including Fremont Bank’s new building in Downtown Fremont. Photo Credit: Ron Essex Photography
2024 in review THE STORIES THAT SHAPED OUR AREA By STAFF In 2024, the Tri-Cities and the East Bay Area saw changes to local government, big anniversaries for beloved institutions, new parks, businesses opening and some goodbyes from old friends. Milestones 2024 marks the East Bay Regional Park District’s 90th year. The park district was established during the Great Depression, when East Bay residents made known that having access to the outdoors was critical for their welfare. Celebrations were held throughout 2024. tricityvoice.com/tri-cityvoice-2024-e-edition-archive/ www.ebparks.org/celebrating-90-years The City of Milpitas celebrated their platinum anniversary of 70 years on Jan. 26 with an open house at city hall. Milpitas is a diverse community of approximately 80,000 residents. tricityvoice.com/tri-city-voice2024-e-edition-archive/ On Jun. 2, the Afro American Cultural and Historical Society celebrated their golden 50th anniversary in Newark. Jean Ficklin conceived the idea of a society that would promote education, networking and culture for individuals of African descent in 1974, and now in her 90s, Ficklin is still involved with the organization today. tricityvoice.com/golden-anniversary-forafro-american-cultural-historical-society/ Also in June, Fremont Bank celebrated 60 years at their new headquarters downtown. Over the decades the bank has stayed true to its community-focused vision. tricityvoice.com/fremont-bank-opening/ tricityvoice.com/fremont-bank-rings-in60th-anniversary-and-new-headquarterswith-upcoming-celebration/ Goodbyes After a goodbye holiday season, Mission Coffee Roasting Company closed for good in Jan. 2024. Located in a historical building in the Mission San Jose district, the small business survived a move and the pandemic.
tricityvoice.com/tri-city-voice-2024-eedition-archive/ In June, this paper threw a retirement party for our founders and longtime owners Bill and Sharon Marshak, who ran Tri-City Voice for over 20 years. Current and former employees, community members and local officials gathered to wish them well. The paper also said hello to Dan Pulcrano, Samantha Campos, Daniel Payomo and the rest of the team at Weeklys. tricityvoice.com/ tri-city-voice-2024-e-edition-archive/
For 54 years, the Tri-City Volunteers Food Bank and Mobile Pantry (aka, TCV Food Bank) in Fremont has united farmers and families in need. But a recent Mediterranean Fruit Fly epidemic has put a pause on the distribution of homegrown goods, severing a longstanding connection between local growers and the community they nourish. “People would just show up with a truckload of food, that was the beautiful thing about this place,” said the food bank’s executive director Linda Leu. The Medfly infestation began in August with the detection of a single female fly in Fremont, prompting the USDA and California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to institute a quarantine. This measure prohibits the transport and distribution of over 50 types of homegrown “host” fruits, including apples, pears, peaches, plums and tomatoes. While food banks like TCV Food Bank can still receive shipments from large commercial farms, the quality often falls short of produce from local farms, which is fresher, more nutritious and less likely to be treated with harmful herbicides. Adopting a client-choice model, TCV Food Bank prioritizes providing luxury service for its consumers. Stepping inside feels like entering a well-stocked grocery store, with neatly organized food bins and cheerful volunteers greeting each person. Pre-quarantine, clients could enjoy fresh organic produce, enhancing the experience. Now, they rely on shipments from the Alameda County Food Bank, which Leu said has been inconsistent with quality. “Like yesterday, we had some real interesting mangoes,” Leu said, chuckling. “There was another day when a truck from the county came and it was only onions because that was all they had.” Renee Best, a TCV Food Bank volunteer who gives her time twice a week, said that the hardest part of her job now is denying people the opportunity to contribute to their community. She recounted a recent situation that stuck with her.
After more than 20 years, founders of Tri-City Voice Bill and Sharon Marshak, celebrated their well-deserved retirement. Photo by Dave Lepori
In Oct. 2024, Oakland Zoo said goodbye to their last remaining elephant. Relocating to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, elephant Osh has the chance to make new friends. Oakland Zoo will do upgrades on the empty enclosure for the next animal residents. tricityvoice.com/osh-leavesoakland-zoo-for-elephant-sanctuary/ Parks After some delays, Zocalo Park opened in the unincorporated area of Ashland in
Contact Us . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Kid Scoop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Editorial/Opinion . . . . . . . 19
Mind Twisters . . . . . . . . . . 6
Home & Garden . . . . . . . . . 12
Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
It’s a date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Public Notices . . . . . . . . . . 14
continued on page 18
Mediterranean Fruit Fly epidemic severs a longstanding connection between local growers and the community. All photos courtesy of Taylor Johnson continued on page 7
Subscribe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
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