From: Lucia Liss
Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2026 8:34 AM
To: City Council <[email protected]>
Subject: Support for A&M Community BBQ
To the Sebastopol City Council,
I am writing in support of A&M BBQ and the family and staƯ behind it. Businesses like A&M are part of what make a community feel alive — they create gathering spaces, provide jobs, and contribute culture, warmth, and identity to a town in ways that are diƯicult to quantify but deeply felt.
Black-owned family businesses in particular often face significant barriers, and it is important that communities actively support and protect the local businesses that make Sebastopol more diverse, welcoming, and vibrant. A&M BBQ represents years of hard work, resilience, and commitment to the community. I sincerely hope the Council will approach this situation with care and fairness by giving the owners appropriate time and support to address concerns and work toward long-term solutions that are realistic and sustainable. It is important that any path forward allows them to continue operating their business and keeping their staƯ employed.
Supporting small local businesses means recognizing that challenges can often be solved collaboratively rather than punitively. I hope Sebastopol chooses to support a solution that preserves both community standards and the livelihoods of the people who have invested so much into this business and the community it serves.
With Gratitude,
Lucia Liss