Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android https://go.onelink.me/107872968?pid=InProduct&c=Global_Internal_YGrowth_AndroidEmailSig__AndroidUsers&af_wl=ym&af_sub1=Internal&af_sub2=Global_YGrowth&af_sub3=EmailSignature > ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: "Lynn Smolik" To: "RDMueller_at_(domainremoved) Cc: Sent: Wed, May 6, 2020 at 5:03 PM Subject: All the enthusiasm for closing Santa Cruz Hi Ray, I am copying my message on NextDoor in case you didn't see it: "I am all for supporting our local restaurants, but not all businesses would benefit from such a plan and the loss of close by parking would be detrimental to any potential restaurant customers who do not wish to bicycle to dinner (and back after wine or drinks) or who are not able to do so. Not to mention that a pedestrian only mall would exclude bicycles. And you can't use a designated driver on a bicycle!! The loss of parking would impact the neighborhoods close in to downtown where the displaced cars would fill the streets (which are often narrower and full parking presents safety hazards by limiting emergency vehicle access). And hopefully the situation necessitating social distancing will be resolved before any hardscape changes could be made. We need to think harder about how to support these businesses during these unprecedented times. Buying gift cards now and patronizing them when we again can is an immediate help that everyone who wants to & is able can participate in. Perhaps the city of Menlo Park can additionally give small grants to offset rent & expenses once or for a limited time. Perhaps publishing the good deeds of landlords who cut their renters a break to encourage those who can to share the burden. There are other ways to help with this temporary problem." I wanted to make sure the other side of the argument is represented to the council as well. I live very near downtown and traffic is already a problem as is parking whenever the church on the corner of Santa Cruz & Johnson has services. We have had people try to squeeze in to make 1 space serve 2 cars and block our driveway (I am a physician and couldn't get out for a call one time). People flagrantly ignore the posted parking hours the time. The people all excited about closing Santa Cruz don't live near it to know the effect it would have on those of us close in. Also, anyone who has never seen the parking lots full doesn't go downtown very often, parking is already always an issue. The "let's all bicycle" crowd must not even have parents or grandparents for whom that is not possible let alone disabled or mobility challenged citizens. This may serve the 35,000 millennials Facebook would like to bring in but it does not serve your current residents & taxpayers very well. Closing the major thoroughfare through downtown before making many other expensive changes (building a parking garage, widening Menlo Ave. and Oak Grove... which flies in the face of the narrowing recently done to provide a bike lane) is irresponsible and unsafe. When the street fairs take place, they have had to limit parking on our street because emergency vehicles can't get through. That's 2 weekends a year, not everyday. This idea is not ready for implementation in time to provide succor for the restaurants. The real problem is the exorbitant rents and that is a bigger problem than just Menlo Park. I would be all for using some of the tax payer funded city coffers to offer respite grants in this extraordinary time, but don't respond to a temporary problem with an expensive permanent solution. Thank you for your time and attention, Lynn Smolik Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android https://go.onelink.me/107872968?pid=InProduct&c=Global_Internal_YGrowth_AndroidEmailSig__AndroidUsers&af_wl=ym&af_sub1=Internal&af_sub2=Global_YGrowth&af_sub3=EmailSignature > Received on Wed May 06 2020 - 20:27:24 PDT
