From: Demi Williams
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2026 2:08 PM
To: City Council <[email protected]>
Subject: Support for A&M BBQ
To the Sebastopol City Council,
I am writing as a supportive local resident who values A&M BBQ and what it has brought to Sebastopol.
Their food is genuinely delicious, and the business has become a warm, welcoming place that many people return to and proudly recommend.
Kris Austin, Tyanna, and their family are locals with deep roots in this community. They have shown themselves to be caring, hardworking, and upstanding community members. I also believe it matters that A&M BBQ represents Black entrepreneurship in Sebastopol, adding to the richness and character of our local business community.
A&M BBQ has given back through donations, local support, and community involvement. It is also a destination restaurant that brings people into Sebastopol, helping generate energy, visitors, and local spending that benefit the city as a whole.
I understand the concerns about smoke, air quality, traffic, and growth, and I believe those concerns deserve thoughtful attention. At the same time, A&M BBQ is a beloved local restaurant, not an industrial operation, and the owners have been making efforts to respond responsibly and work toward solutions.
They have already been searching for a more suitable long-term location, and relocating a restaurant with this kind of equipment and permitting takes time. I respectfully ask the Council to give A&M BBQ a fair and reasonable opportunity to relocate while continuing to work toward practical solutions.
I hope any path forward also considers the employees, families, and customers who rely on this business. The best outcome is one that supports a responsible transition, preserves jobs, and allows this valued local business to continue contributing to Sebastopol in a better-suited location.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Demi Pike
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