On August 19, there was an article in the Contra Costa Times by Tom Lochner that read: “The rezoning was slipped into the Waterfront Master Plan, after July 7, and buried within the fine print,” said Historic Homes resident Don Goewey; he characterized the action as “a flagrant breach of trust.” I had talked with Tom Lochner prior to his writing this article and made clear that this rezoning had been part of the plan at least as early as June 5, when it was filed with the city. It was irresponsible of Lochner to repeat this without qualification and it was reprehensible of Goewey to make this unfounded accusation, especially since either party could have easily checked with the city to see that this is not true.

Personally, I had been on the fence about Sala Thai, but seeing the willingness of those most opposed to make false accusations has made me less sympathetic to their cause. Although the restaurant is somewhat close to a few houses, it is no more so than for many other thriving neighborhoods, and we might consider that many who object to Sala Thai also objected to the building of the Promenade neighborhood as well.