Latest news with #LocalEconomy
San Francisco Chronicle
6 days ago
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
An antidote to ‘isolation and chaos:' KQED ‘Forum' host opening Oakland community space
Oakland is getting an ambitious new community space from two prominent local writers who hope a combination of coffee, local goods and events will create a much-needed refuge during what they deem an 'era of isolation and chaos.' Couple Alexis Madrigal, co-host of KQED's daily public affairs show 'Forum,' and author and creative director Sarah Rich are opening Local Economy at 6028 College Ave. in the Rockridge neighborhood this fall. The duo, who have lived nearby for 14 years, have long flirted with the idea of starting something similar, but finally seized the moment. 'I'm feeling deeply the many concerns swirling around us in the nation and the world,' said Rich, who has worked as an editorial director for Heath Ceramics, grocery delivery service Good Eggs and design firm Ideo. 'Doing something in local space, in community, to physically connect people is one of the best forms of concrete action we can take right now.' Rich and Madrigal intend Local Economy to be many things. The owners have partnered with Painted Leopard, a West Berkeley microroaster that uses beans from El Salvador, to set up a coffee cart in the front. A retail section will be stocked with goods from independent makers. They plan to host authors (Local Economy is conveniently located next door to East Bay Booksellers), food popups and zine-making for kids. Community members have already made their own suggestions, like a kimchi class or fungi-centric book club. A neighbor is building them two large, 8-foot tables that will anchor the space. Madrigal and Rich hope to replicate the connection of weekly dinners the couple has hosted with friends since the pandemic. Local Economy will offer memberships, though programs and events will be open to the public. Madrigal and Rich said they were inspired by various local models, like Berkeley's La Peña Cultural Center, a community and social justice hub founded in 1975, and the Swallow, an experimental restaurant and collective food writer Ruth Reichl ran inside the Berkeley Art Museum in the 1970s. Newer reference points include the Ruby, a creative collective in San Francisco, and Oakland's Womb House Books, which specializes in work by female, nonbinary and queer writers and authors of color. 'I feel like it's such a Bay Area tradition,' said Madrigal. 'There's a thing the community needs and we're going to D.I.Y. it and call in a constellation of people who want this thing to happen. It feels like we're in another moment like that.'
BBC News
6 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Wembley Stadium's local council plans to tax overnight visitors
A north London council could introduce a new tax on some visitors staying overnight in the borough to help fund improvements to the Stadium in the borough attracted nearly three million people last year, with acts including Oasis and Coldplay set to perform this Council said a levy would turn the high visitor numbers into "a vital new source of funding" to be used to tackle challenges caused by the area's success as a cultural motion to introduce a mandatory visitor levy on hotel and short-stay accommodation - was proposed at a council meeting on Monday, where the next step - of getting permission to impose the fee - was agreed. Brent Council is exploring ways of ensuring "the benefit of our world class events are felt by all residents", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS). The influx of visitors brings economic benefits, with each non-sporting event at the Wembley Stadium boosting the local economy by around £ it also negatively impacts on residents through increased noise, congestion, waste and pressure on council Council's Mary Mitchell said London boroughs should follow the proven model already in place in cities across the UK and Europe. She suggested the money raised could fund street trees, waste enforcement, enhanced cleaning and improvements to parks and green spaces. The LDRS said the council will write to the relevant secretary of state requesting powers to introduce the will also write to the mayor of London asking for his support for a voluntary levy on stadium and arena tickets to fund grassroots cultural to the LDRS, Manchester's £1 a night additional charge on hotel stays has raised £2.8m in its first year, while Edinburgh's 5% addition to accommodation costs is projected to bring in around £50m per year.
