Dear Council Members,
I am strongly in favor of reopening this block to vehicular traffic. I visit downtown often, and the public plaza rarely has more than a few people sitting there. That is not enough usage to justify permanently closing a single block to traffic, much less the cost of beautifying and maintaining this section of roadway in perpetuity.
Additionally, if the parking lots are developed for housing, having this block closed will only exacerbate the immense burdens placed on downtown businesses. If Measure P fails, I would encourage Council to return parking to this block, including one or two handicapped spots to facilitate access to Walgreens.
Although I want to reopen Santa Cruz, I do support the idea of a gathering spot downtown. I suggest putting more attention towards Fremont Park, which has much more potential for wide scale public usage and enjoyment.
Thank you for your consideration.
Best,
Marcy Abramowitz
