The 600 block of Santa Cruz Ave. has become an important gathering and public space and should be closed permanently to ensure it continues to be. With an office in downtown, I frequently walk past this space. The picnic tables are almost always in use - by shoppers and diners during the day, school kids in the afternoon, more diners in the evening, and by all groups on the weekends. Last weekend the space hosted a community bicycle safety advocacy group. With few gathering spaces near downtown and benches often in use by homeless people, this space is an essential community amenity. Please allow this to continue by permanently closing the eastbound lane of this block.
Brian Jones
