The unpermitted bollards that have been in the middle of Webster Street's sidewalk since January are still there today — still blocking the path of travel for those on foot, in wheelchairs, or pushing strollers. The only change is that two of the city's green concrete barricades have also been positioned in the roadway nearby. Those are features of the dispensary's recently approved plans for an encroachment permit — however, the fact that the impediments remain in the sidewalk suggests that the city is not holding the (ir)responsible business to meaningful deadlines.

Simultaneously, the Alameda Police Department is now encouraging other business owners to install more of these types of obstacles. Here's an APD flyer distributed this week to members of the city's business associations (with my own highlight added around the top recommendation):

C O M M E R C I A L B U R G L A R Y P R E V E N T I O N ALAMEDA POLICE DEPARTMENT P H Y S I C A L B A R R I E R S Installing bollards or steel barriers in front of a building’s entry points can help prevent thieves from using vehicles to gain access to a business. Large planters, trees, or raised curbs can also be strategically placed as natural barriers. R E P O R T I N G E M E R G E N C Y 911 510-522-2423 510-337-8340 N O N - E M E R G E N C Y SCAN FOR A DIGITAL COPY OF THIS FLYER L I M I T A C C E S S C O N T R O L Limit the number of access points to a property by installing retractable bollards or gates to restrict vehicle access when businesses are closed. This could be beneficial to businesses within shopping centers with large parking lots and multiple entrances and exits. F O R T I F Y E N T R Y P O I N T S Reinforce entry points with impact-resistant glass, such as laminated or tempered glass, which can be more time consuming to break. Consider installing roll shutters or security grills on windows, and ensure your doors are solid- core with reinforced steel frames to make them resistant to forced entry. This includes internal doors that lead to areas where high valued items or safes are stored. P R O D U C T P L A C E M E N T Consider placing high-value items in areas that are less accessible to potential thieves. For example, keep expensive or highly targeted merchandise behind reinforced display cases or in secured areas. Removing high-value items from the floor after hours can greatly reduce the temptation for thieves to target your store. Leave only tester items or less valuable goods on the floor and have an associate retrieve the items when a customer is ready to purchase. This practice can help minimize losses during both operational and non-operational hours. A L A R M S Y S T E M S Modern alarm systems, equipped with audible alarms, can immediately alert both intruders and anyone nearby. Some systems offer security cameras with 24/7 monitoring, offering around-the-clock surveillance, ensuring that any suspicious activity is promptly reported to APD. The video feeds can be monitored in real time with security teams able to relay critical information to dispatchers directly. For situations when there is an immediate threat to life, property, or public safety. For situations that do not pose an immediate risk to life or safety but still require police, fire, or other services to address the situation. Type “911” in the sender field E M E R G E N C Y T E X T For emergency situations when it is unsafe to make a voice call. www.alamedapolice.org O N L I N E R E P O R T I N G For non-emergency situations where the sole purpose is to document the incident.

It's unfortunate that this flyer doesn't mention that for storefronts facing public sidewalks, installing physical barriers in publicly owned right-of-way is not allowed without a permit.

In an ideal world, the city's departments would have coordinated on this topic and now be able to offer storefronts in the business districts a menu of options that all meet accessibility requirements and improve the overall appearance and usability of streetscapes for everyone. This could even be an opportunity to have private businesses opt-in to use their own funds to buy approved planters or other sorts of street furnishings to spiff up spots along Webster St. and Park St., while reducing their own worries about nefarious or inattentive drivers crashing into their storefronts.

However, given the city's apparent disinterest in code enforcement that goes beyond sending letters and APD's apparent lack of communication with other city departments, it would almost be simpler if Alameda's more worried business owners adopted the strategy now used by a few of their counterparts in East Oakland: Instead of installing illegal bollards into public sidewalks in front of their stores, they just buy old used cars or trucks. Each night they drive the junker up onto the sidewalk and position it to block their store's entrance doors. On the off chance that they receive tickets for parking on the sidewalk or their shoddy old vehicle is towed... well, that's just the cost of doing business. And even though it is certainly a major obstacle and safety hazard for pedestrians at night, during the day they just drive it back out to a legal parking spot and the sidewalk is open again for full use... unlike those bollards permanently sticking out of the middle of the sidewalk 24/7 on Webster.

Don't get me wrong. I'm being sarcastic in suggesting this to business owners in Alameda's business districts. Please don't protect your weed gummies at night by driving a beater vehicle up on the sidewalk and blocking access for everyone on the sidewalk. But also, please don't learn from this example of overly patient inaction by the city's Public Works and Planning departments, nor follow APD's advice to install physical barriers without first proactively considering property lines and accessibility requirements.

Sidewalks are public places for people — not sites of private fortification.

Thinking about PROWAG on a walk around Alameda: Part III