From: Erica Stancliff
Sent: Thursday, May 21, 2026 8:33 AM
To: City Council <[email protected]>
Subject: Letter of Support for A&M BBQ
Dear Sebastopol City Council Members,
I am writing in support of A&M BBQ and to encourage the City to work collaboratively with them as concerns are raised in the community about the impact of their business on the neighborhood.
I grew up in west county, attended Analy High School, and have watched the town change significantly over the last 30 years. Like many locals, I value what has always made Sebastopol special: its sense of community, its support of independent businesses, and its willingness to preserve the character that makes this town different from anywhere else.
I understand that concerns from neighbors should be heard and addressed thoughtfully. At the same time, I hope the City recognizes that successful local businesses naturally bring activity, visibility, and popularity. Those things can create inconveniences at times, but they are also signs that a business is contributing something meaningful to the community.
Sebastopol has long prided itself on being progressive and supportive of small businesses. Supporting local businesses cannot only apply when they are quiet, invisible, or effortless to accommodate. Real support means working together to find practical solutions that allow businesses and residents to coexist successfully.
In today’s economic climate, independent restaurants face enormous challenges. Rising costs, staffing issues, and increasing operational pressures have already caused many beloved local establishments to close. Losing another locally owned restaurant would not strengthen Sebastopol’s community character, it would diminish it.
A&M BBQ brings energy, jobs, gathering space, and economic activity to the area. Businesses like this help create the vibrant, locally rooted culture that residents and visitors alike value about Sebastopol.
Rather than pushing them out, I encourage the City to continue working with ownership toward reasonable solutions and to help support their transition to find a more suitable long term location within Sebastopol.
Communities thrive when they make room for local entrepreneurs, creativity, and gathering places; even when that requires patience, compromise, and adaptation from everyone involved. I hope the City Council will approach this issue with that larger perspective in mind.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Erica Stancliff