Interviews and photographs by CLAIRE PULKOWNIK and GERARDO RECINOS
Christine, 50, Juror
“Today there was a woman from the historical society who came and she gave a little talk about Martinez, and I think that’s part of what gave me the impression too, of this community effort (to get more people downtown).***
Barney, 64, Walks 
“I’m retired, and I come down here and walk. It’s a nice peaceful spot. After a while you walk down there, you get to know people by sight … unknown walking buddies.”
Eddy, 39, Resident 
“The part that has attracted us is that small-town feel. It’s funny ‘cause in the Bay Area you don’t usually get that small town feel.”
Jenny, 37, Resident
“With the new business, there is more reason for us to come down here, and there wasn’t really a reason before.”
Matt, 33, Juror
“I’m here for jury duty. I’ve never been here before, this is my second day. I just come here, I go to Subway and I go back (to the courthouse). I haven’t spent any real time here. There’s not much going on here, pretty sleepy, pretty quiet.”
Erin, 28, Hair Appt.
“I’m gonna get my hair done [at Citrus]. I live in Vallejo. I don’t come down here a lot, maybe three or four times before.”
Ed, 61, Work
“I work here, in the courthouse. It’s a little better than being a real hectic downtown, but it would be nice if it had a few more amenities. On the one hand I notice there is work going on, but there is also a lot of empty space. I wouldn’t mind seeing something handy like a drugstore or someplace like that where I can run errands.”
Martinez Tribune The website of the Martinez Tribune.