Good morning,
I'll ensure my clerk has opened a case and put it in the cue. Please be advised, this is not the same priority level as life safety or substandard housing. We'll address it as soon as time permits. Thank you- Michael Meyer- Sr. Code Enforcement Officer

Thank you for bringing this issue to our attention. This case has been transferred to our Code Enforcement tracking system and will be closed here in See, Click, Fix. Code Enforcement cases are responded to based on a priority schedule set by the Alameda City Council. Cases involving health and life safety are the highest priority. Should you have questions regarding the status, please contact Code Enforcement at 510 747-6818.

There is no way this matter is fixed, I am sorry to say. The bowling alley continues to have problems cleaning up litter blowing around its property, and volcanic rock spilling onto the sidewalk, presenting a safety issue for multiple people using the sidewalk with wheel chairs and walkers, or joggers stumbling over rock. The Bowling Alley finally installed a totally inadequate piece of plastic to try and hold back volcanic rock from spilling, and it HAS improved the situation, but the plastic comes undone and rock spills over it anyway. They went for a cheap fix, which is just barely able to contain the rock. Volcanic rock should be prohibited in areas with heavy foot traffic, unless it is fully restrained. I myself have fallen on the sharp, unpleasant stuff (not at the BA) - and had knee surgery as a result. I don't know if the BA is running on a very thin profit margin, but the improvements they made are indicative of a poor approach to problem solving, or, impending bankruptcy - I don't know which. They could at least install some garbage cans around the property so people chucking their liquor bottles and cigarettes would not just toss them into the landscape. This is prime property. Why are they not taking care of it better?

Bowling Alley continues on much the same, Mildly improved by the cheap plastic barrier to restrain volcanic rock from tumbling onto the sidewalk, but the barrier is not extended to all areas of volcanic rock/sidewalk - just some areas, and comes undone like a snake and out spills the rock! Litter continues to be a problem with the BA, partly because they do not install any garbage cans on the premises for their cigarette-smoking, liquor-bottle- swigging clientele. Hence, the debris from these two items, plus plastic cups and straws, spread around among the weed patches and volcanic rock. Prime property on Shoreline with water view, heavily visited by beach-goers, and right across from bird sanctuary. I fail to understand why Shoreline Shopping Center can manage its debris and landscaping so nicely most of the time, and right across the street the Bowling Alley is an eyesore and an Alameda BLIGHT. Nasty colors (red and black) stand out like a cheap, garrish eyesore in an otherwise lovely part of the island.

Once again as I pass the Bowling Alley today I see that the cheap barrier is not containing the sharp volcanic rock from spilling onto the much-used Shoreline sidewalk.

Bowling Alley is slightly improved these days, with significant lapses, when the cheap barrier fails and rocks spill over. The place requires constant monitoring because it doesn't really assimilate the mission, here - to keep the sidewalks clear of rocks and keep litter off their premises and eliminate the weed patch so it looks a little better. I can't believe their idea of landscaping meets city requirements. It is an indoor business (bowling) so its gaze and its customers are not focused on the beauty all around them, the wild life, and the people walking by outside. They are inside as with a dark tavern. They need constant reminding that the outside exists too, and most of us are out there, walking by, not bowling!

I just happened to be looking around on Click Fix and saw this report. I absolutely agree with KC. The last time I walked past the bowling alley I noticed the rock all over the sidewalk. This is an ongoing problem that needs to be better addressed.

Thanks so much, Martha, for taking the time to make a comment about the Bowling Alley. I see people in wheel chairs and walkers all the time, having to struggle through the mess. The BA finally put up this ridiculous 8inch (or less) plastic barrier which holds back some of the rock, some of the time. It is a joke. There is also litter and cigarette butts all over, though that too has finally improved after they got fined by the city. I don't get the legality of having a weed patch and volcanic rock in prime real estate ares, and where public goes on the path all the time to South Shore, stumbling over the crumbling volcanic rock. GRRRRRPlease if you know other people who are bothered by the unsightly mess, encourage them to report in. I have been a lonely voice until you piped up!

I have passed this chronic problem directly to city officials, Liam Garland and Eric Fonstein, by emails, with more photos, because I get no help from seeclickfix on this whatsoever, other than to keep trying to close the case, and passing it from one department to another, and telling me it is low priority. When someone in a wheel chair or walker falls due to these rocks all over, particularly at night, someone will be sued. The city needs to give the Bowling Alley a SERIOUS fine ($250 clearly insufficient) and shut the place down until they fix their landscaping properly and have a barrier that really keeps that darn rock (if they MUST use it) inside the barrier. Right now, it is a pathetic little plastic six inch item which springs out of place all the time, and in any case, does not provide sufficient barrier - rock goes right over the top.

Thank you for bringing this issue to our attention. This case has been transferred to our Code Enforcement tracking system and will be closed here in See, Click, Fix. Code Enforcement cases are responded to based on a priority schedule set by the Alameda City Council. Cases involving health and life safety are the highest priority. Should you have questions regarding the status please contact Code Enforcement at 510 747-6818.