Dear City Council, Planning Commission and Chamber of C, I wish to express my feelings about the closing of Santa Cruz Av. I understand that this new policy was created with the best of intentions but I truly believe it is and will be counter productive to the overall business activity of the street. I think that in order to help the restaurants you are negatively impacting the retail stores and with the pandemic already requiring that retail stores be closed over three months, you have now closed the street. This adds one more large obstacle to retail sales. Of the numerous restaurants on Santa Cruz Av., the majority already have outdoor seating and a few of the others already had a strong takeout business. So, how much is it really helping restaurants? Or if it is, is this policy for the greater good of all? Some of the retail businesses have a back door, though not many have a presentable back door. Access is either by restaurant dumpsters or into the back stock rooms so that is not really tenable for many of us. Bottom line. The restaurants draw business from the retailers and the retailers draw business from the restaurants. We need each other but sadly, many retailers will not survive if this policy continues. One suggestion. Maybe easy to move barricades could be put in place beginning at 5 pm each afternoon during the summer months and all businesses could try to recover from the pandemic without any self inflicted wounds? Sincerely, James Littrell ------------------------ Ruby Livingdesign 1525 Union St. San Francisco, CA 94123 P: 415.922.2500 F: 415.922.1222 www.rubyliving.com http://www.rubyliving.com > Received on Mon Jul 13 2020 - 16:09:13 PDT
