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Dear Menlo Park City Council,
Your news of keeping the street in its current format until September of next year is absolutely devastating to Harvest. Our foot traffic is dramatically reduced and the visibility of our store front is extremely limited.
The restaurants neighboring our store are occupying the street and the sidewalk with tables, chairs, and umbrellas, making Harvest all but invisible. Since there are absolutely no rules to occupying public space any longer, our store has become virtually inaccessible. The lack of drive-by traffic further limits exposure of downtown businesses.
Please understand that restaurants are not the only stakeholders on Santa Cruz Avenue. What used to be an amicable and cooperative business community has turned into a hostile and adversarial environment, in which different merchants are becoming combative over space.
I am not interested in obtaining any favorable treatment for Harvest but I would like the City Council to remember that Santa Cruz Avenue is a business district that should allow a diversity of businesses to thrive, not just the restaurants.
At this point, I cannot help but feel that the City Council has taken sides to favor the interests of one group of stakeholders over those of other groups.
I am asking you to reconsider your decision. The vast majority of merchants and restaurants oppose the street closure.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Karsten Iwers
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