As a small business owner who spends a significant amount of time downtown, I feel compelled to share my perspective on State Street because its current configuration directly affects my business and the overall health of the downtown economy.
I am writing to respectfully urge the City Council to reconsider reopening State Street to vehicular traffic while a long-term vision for the downtown corridor is still being developed.
When the pandemic first reached Santa Barbara and State Street was closed to allow restaurants to safely serve diners outdoors, the decision was understandable and, at the time, commendable. I remember when the planters and barriers were installed, it felt like a thoughtful, decisive response to an unprecedented situation. The closure served a clear purpose and helped many businesses survive during a crisis…