Hello,
I would like to strongly urge council to reopen the 600 block of Santa Cruz
Avenue to car traffic
The single block, one direction closure is a confusion and irritation to
many residents and visitors to Menlo Park - as they express to me on a
weekly basis. It is my understanding, having witnessed various plans and
meetings over the last couple of decades, that for some, a permanent road
closure of all of Santa Cruz Avenue is a goal. I think that should be a
separate plan proposed, evaluated, discussed and voted on. I do not think
this one block closure should be viewed as the beginning of that effort.
A one block closure, a remnant of the quick decisions needed during the
pandemic, is a relic. We can keep the outdoor dining established in that
block. We can keep the community benches (which are currently only taking
up half of the space closed) in the parking lot area. But open the street
to through traffic.
I can appreciate the desire to be able to close off the streets and have
special events occasionally, so install removable/repositionable barriers.
The restaurants are happy, the community gets its meeting space, the cars
can traverse the entirety of Santa Cruz Avenue in both directions, and the
space is usable for special occasions. Rarely can you do something that can
make everyone happy. The only faction that solution does not satisfy are
those wanting Santa Cruz avenue to close entirely, and keeping this one
side of one block closed does not accomplish that anyway.
So please vote to reopen the street.
Elisa
