History Blog: Shady Telephone Operations

On the January, 10, 1961, issue of the Union City Leader, there is an article about the Alameda County Sheriff's Department investigating telephone solicitation operations in Union City and making sure the operations are operating with the proper City permits and business licenses. Some of the telephone operations were suspected of being shady, not being honest and trying to make fast money with as little cost as possible.

One operation that was investigated was run by Joseph Michelson, who was operating Modern Advertising Co. from an office at 31107 Levee Street (now Union City Blvd). He sold coupon books for $5.99, but the coupons were only for businesses outside of Union City. One report said that Modern Advertising delivered the coupon book to a local resident, telling her that her husband had ordered the book. When her husband got home, he claimed no knowledge of any coupon book.

When the Sheriff's Department inquired to Mr. Michelson why he did not have a city business permit, he said that he had just "neglected" to get one and was just on his way to City Hall to get one. The very next day, when the Sheriff's Department made a return visit, the operation was closed down, the office was empty, and Mr. Michelson had left town.

The Sheriff's Department also investigated a San Francisco Examiner office also on Levee Street and a magazine operation what was operating from a residence at 625 F. Street in Decoto. The reason that Union City was popular with these operations was the low rents and being on the Greenleaf telephone exchange, they would call the Sycamore and Oliver exchanges (Fremont and Newark) for a flat rate. If calling from Hayward, a toll charge would have been incurred.