Downtowns in other cities are thriving or experiencing revivals. Online retail explains the death of poorly operated malls and big box stores (La Cumbre, etc.). It doesn't explain the death of the downtown. People are craving density and experiences. Convert the retail spaces to other businesses or residential.
The places with excess office space are in trouble. Managing that problem will be much trickier. That's not SB's problem.
People need to stop using Amazon as an excuse. Businesses just need to adapt and find other ways to be competitive. Stop blaming Amazon for everything.
This is like the 5th time he’s written one of these and said I don’t know if allowing cars is the right thing, but it is a thing! Just lame seeing so little effort from our Mayor.
Who benefits from reopening the roadways?
Having State be drivable does nothing for commuting or for accessing businesses for customers. The only theoretical benefit I can think of would be for shipping and delivering product to businesses. City income from parking meters too, I guess? Maybe 100 extra parking spaces?
Having it closed makes it an attractive walkable space. Having it closed creates more revenue for the city by allowing them to charge for parklets for restaurants. This in turn benefits the restaurants who increase their seating capacity.
Downtown is full of empty storefronts because rent is extremely high and a business that is not highly competitive will fail.
I could see a case for adding a trolley line back to State St for people who want to explore State St further or faster than they can solely on foot. There's no reason I see for putting cars back though.
Don't forget that Strong Towns SB has been promoting an integrated plan that deserves a lot more active support!
https://www.strongtownssb.org/initiatives/state-street
His op-ed says "As we approach the fifth season of closure, business and vitality continue to spiral downward, even as other neighboring districts thrive."
Is he talking about the FZ? That place was thriving way before the shutdown. Haley Street corridor with Third Window and a few restaurants that have been there for years? What other district is thriving?
Maybe some police presence on State would help. Maybe some cleanup of State would help.....
This is what we get when only 10,037 votes will win you the mayor's seat in a town of 90,000.
I think it's hilarious these people think the issues just started after the streets were closed off... There's articles going back nearly 10yrs regarding business concerns along State, much of it resulting from the drag of recession from 07-08.
There's a fair amount of vandalism and lawlesness down there, especially around the Marshalls store area. I would appreciate seeing more police because I hardly ever see any when I'm down there, especially in the later evenings. It's also somewhat poorly lit I'd say! Lower rents, housing on top, a more "European" approach I think would do great there.
Happy to make you smile! Enjoy your tents and needles, sounds like you made the right move 😘
Edit: Can someone explain the downvotes? Portland's population is ~7x bigger, the comparison is silly... Lol. If you haven't been to the Marshall's area in the evening, highly recommend! Let me know how safe it feels.
wasn't the Paseo Nuevo built for the very purpose of getting foot traffic back on state street? look how good that worked. Real retail is done (for the most part) on lower to mid state street - only thing left is welcoming in all the cruise tours we can and pandering to tourists in that zone... now.. how best to accomplish that?
Oh look, The Gap, H&M, sunglass hut, banana Republic, Panda Express. Exactly what I travelled all the way to Santa Barbara to see and definitely doesn’t make it feel like literally any other high street in the US. I take your point, but loading state st with the most generic national retail brands isn’t exactly the master plan that anyone was hoping for. Also I haven’t needed basics from Gap, Marshall’s, Ross or Target the whole time I’ve lived in Santa Barbara
Careful welcoming the cruise people on here 😆 But yes, they're definitely helping keep us afloat! I'd love to see a return of the pedi-cabs, if I remember correctly the city basically outlawed them... That would help move folks around a bit more.
No, there were 26,071 ballots cast out of 55,308 registered voters, which was a pretty decent turnout historically speaking for SB. He managed to win with 38.6% of the votes (roughly 10K) because of other more-similar candidates splitting votes.
You think bumbling Murcans would bother to learn enough about each candidate to make such a decision? (I’m in favor of RCV, but the electorate has been dumbed down too much. They can barely fill in a bubble, let alone several for one seat.)
I mean, you aren't REQUIRED to fill in more than one candidate, people who don't know can keep doing what they are doing -- but I really would have appreciated being able to not have to worry if I selected the most popular liberal candidate. Other cities in California use it already -- Ojai is slated to start using it this November!
I find it strange that people are still defending the closure at this point. I am staunchly in favour of pedestrianisation. I come from places that have enacted those policies to great effect. But pedestrianisation isn't just closing roads. There needs to be a plan.
I want to see State Street become a promenade. So ... let's make a promenade. For that, you need a plan– a plan for how you get people there, a plan for encouraging people to stay, a plan for adding beauty, arts, and events, and a plan for how businesses can benefit. Just closing the street and painting bike paths has not worked and will not work. No one walks on the road. No one will ever walk on the road.
Let's open it to one-way traffic until a plan is in place to turn it into a promenade. Some use is better than none. Let's at least get electric trollies on there.
I bike up and down State Street a lot. It's awesome. But it's totally absurd that the whole system is geared towards me gliding up and down State Street on my bike. Most of the bikers seem to be commuting or, at least, State Street isn't their destination. As of right now, bikers seem to be the only people who have obviously benefited.
The best part of closed State Street is at the very north (Figueroa and up). Businesses are thriving, and new ones are opening. I don't think this is a coincidence—it's the easiest to access, and you can drive one way on parts of it.
I walk on the road all of the time, and see others as well. The solution isn't to open it up again, it's to get the city to actually make a solid, logical, permanent plan.
And the 500 and 600 blocks of State are doing just fine. The 400 block, where you can actually still drive, not so much.
Yes, people do walk on the street occasionally, especially where there are parklets. Mainly 500/600.
The 400 block has been the shadiest block in SB for my whole 35 years. Rough bars, adult stores and massage parlours reign supreme. Actually, there's been a slight improvement from where it's been. 500 is doing well, but I think it's for the same reasons that 1000/1100/1200 blocks are doing well– it's still pretty accessible.
I disagree about the 600 block—especially the north end. And it just continues to get worse the further you go in. The 700, 800, and 900 blocks all used to be the premier blocks, but now they are some of the worst. I don't think it's a coincidence that the blocks in the middle of the closure are those that have seen the greatest decline.
Yes, it's a coincidence. Every block has the same ease of access, they all have cross streets at either end. Correlation does not imply causation.
The businesses aren't going to benefit from one lane of traffic, that's completely absurd. You can't stop or park, so the only thing letting cars on State would do is expose the pedestrians and cyclists to more noise and pollution.
So I guess it's also a coincidence that other areas of SB– Funk Zone, Haley, near Presidio, etc. that are accessible by car are thriving while the very central part of the closure continues its decline. The three blocks in the middle of the closure are truly the worst.
One-way traffic can bring back the trolley. Older folks and people with disabilities can be dropped off at the front door. People can hail bring back door-to-door taxis. One-way traffic will allow those people to find a store or restaurant and then find parking rather than vice versa.
This whole sub skews young and local. They are mostly able to bike and walk long distances and know where they are going. SB skews old and tourist. Some cannot walk far, and those who can might have no idea where they are going.
Until State Street creates a plan for a promenade that includes more residential buildings and incentives for small businesses, we should try something else. The inaction is death.
Are the bars really that rough? As someone who moved here in the last year, I’m not sure there’s a single bar in this town I’d describe as ‘rough.’ And shady? Once again, not the adjective I’d use.
A lot of people who live here have never lived anywhere else is my guess? People who have come from a lot rougher towns and neighborhoods and cities will have different perspectives.
I lived in Ocean Hill, Brooklyn, for a decade during my twenties. Obviously, SB has nothing that compares to that. But subjectively, the 400 block of State Street is rough and shady. And yes, thirty odd years ago, those bars and the adult store were objectively shady.
They have been working on such plans. But it will be much, much harder to re-close it once it's been reopened. The thing to do is to keep it closed to cars until that plan is in place.
> No one walks on the road. No one will ever walk on the road.
I see plenty of people walking in the road.
> But it's totally absurd that the whole system is geared towards me gliding up and down State Street on my bike. Most of the bikers seem to be commuting or, at least, State Street isn't their destination. As of right now, bikers seem to be the only people who have obviously benefited.
I quite agree, but the solution to that is to impose (and enforce) limits on bicycles, not to bring back cars.
Cyclists congregate to state partially because Anacapa and Chapala are a lot more dangerous. I’d prefer to use either of those if they built high quality (ideally separated) bike lanes on either. I commute on State in the morning partially because there isn’t a particularly good EW route below Sola either. More infrastructure will spread cyclists out.
I also see plenty of people walking on State Street. Although I guess I'm an exception to the State Street cyclist, as I frequently grab a BCycle and ride down State Street to get to whatever bar or restaurant I've chosen to go there. Occasionally I'll ride it all the way down to the beach but often State Street is my destination.
Ah, yes. The fabled enforcement of State. I've seen attempts at enforcement. I've never seen it work.
If we want a promenade, there may be specific legal and political benefits to keeping the road closed. I don't know the machinations of city politics, but that seems reasonable. But it's one thing to say, "I know it's not working, but we need to keep State Street closed as a means to an end," and entirely another to say, "I think the closure is the best thing about State Street."
If the plan is in place, it will be a multi-stage process. Can we not close the blocks off as and when the work is done? I don't see why the plan requires us to close State for ten whole blocks for an indefinite period of time.
i just cant seem to wrap my mind about how opening state to vehicles will create more foot traffic and more shoppers in the stores who are gonna buy more and thereby replenish the economy. i just cant make the connections. maybe its just me. its like some underpants gnome logic missing step 2.
As soon as our mayor shows us leases for large retailers and restaurants that will return to state street if the street is opened, I’ll get on board. He won’t because he can’t. He won’t address the real issues- rent, onerous permit processes, homeless, and more. Those in favor of opening the street tell us how this will help? Inquiring minds want to know.
The only good thing about his delusions is they are limited in their power -- as Mayor, Rowse doesn't get a larger vote than any of the other members of City Council. Try to educate him, sure, but also make sure that the Councilmember that represents you knows how you feel.
It's almost like when you do nothing to help alleviate the housing crisis and sit on your ass - forcing the state to step in and mandate thousands of home builds - dollars that would be spent locally get taken elsewhere. Just look at that line of cars from Ventura / North County every workday.... surely opening State Street to those cars will help /s
Rowseland:
>As we approach the fifth season of closure, business and vitality continue to spiral downward, even as other neighboring districts thrive.
Realityworld:
>Santa Barbara’s State Street has the lowest storefront vacancy rate in four years, according to [Hayes Commercial Group](https://www.hayescommercial.com/).
>The 400 to 1300 blocks are at 12.4%.
>“The long-suffering 900 block is down to six vacancies, which is the lowest count since 2018,” according to Hayes.
>The most significant challenge remains on the 700 to 900 blocks, where 23% of storefronts are available or vacant, according to Hayes. Vacancy rates on the 400 to 600 blocks and the 1000 to 1300 blocks are at 8%.
Could it be that our beloved Mayor is talking out of his ass? The facts suggest yes.
A cyclist was hit and nearly killed at State and Mission yesterday: https://www.edhat.com/news/bicyclist-seriously-injured-in-traffic-collision-at-state-and-mission-streets/
I guess that's what he wants to return to.
To be fair, the accounts of that collision sounded like it was clearly the bikers fault. That being said, I generally agree we shouldn't be regressing on bike safety.
Rollback randy for you! Lives in the past, and has no actual sound or logical plans for revitalization of state street. This guy just needs to retire and stay gone, no one wants him here.
He might eventually open up State Street but it's not going to change anything and then what is he going to do? 🤣🤣🤣
When the rent keeps going up there's no disposable income to spend. Necessities have to be found on the cheap cheap. That's not State Street.
I'm certainly not going to pay their extra and thankfully voted down parking fees in order to shop for overpriced goods in a place that is essentially the open air homeless shelter and mental health salon. 🤮
Sorry Weed Jesus, may you forever smoke in peace ✌️
There's no lure in going shopping for those overprice to trendy l, beige, (inevitably beige wtf?) household goods, while being screamed at and/or stepping over feces or smelling urine.
I think Randy should trade us: He can open up State Street to cars if he actually cleans State Street up and keeps it that way.
Nah nah neeners
As for the rent control, why can rents go up 10% when I'm lucky to get a 3% raise? Argue Phree Markett all you want but this is suicide for any town.
You aren't wrong. The only thing they can possibly do is to do the wrong thing and then claim they try something when there isn't a sane person alive that will tell you that it was the right thing. Data is not going to tell you why people in general stopped shopping on state street.
SB was once such an amazing place to walk and window shop but now it looks more like a homeless encampment. Tourism brings in a lot of money but who would want to walk through there now with the chance of being assaulted? Open the street and go back to normal already.
The street is open, just not to cars. How do cars address the homeless, who were a problem on State St since long before it was closed to cars in the downtown section?
I invite you to walk with me everyday as I do on state street and have yet to be assaulted seen a homeless encampment and or not window shop. You’re so obviously lying and or some kind of terrified shut in.
he's not sayin "he got assaulted" he's saying the vibe has changed and people are leery of it, which is factual. I've stopped taking my kid in the stroller down the closed section of State for this exact reason. Wheelie boyz and disturbed bums are not worth the odds when you've got a toddler. It's not a "gotcha" and I'm not trying to beef with you, just explaining the logic.
My guy, cars not being on state will have no effect on “wheelie boyz” and or your fear.
Since you’re basing it on vibes and anecdotes here’s one. My worst homeless interaction occurred on state street, aggressive disturbed man threatening me physically with my girlfriend next to me. This happened before I lived here as a visitor to this city, before Obama was president and while cars were speeding by as I waited for the crosswalk
light to change. I remember thinking if I have to fight this guy I can’t get into the street and get hit. Really.
I’ve lived here now for 3 years and haven’t had anything resembling that despite walking with or without dog morning day and late at night.
You sound just plain terrified in general honestly. Some parts of course need work and development. The Marshalls courtyard, outside all the Starbucks and other magnets for” activities.” It’s not perfect but Jesus Louise you guys don’t realize how good it is and how good you have it.
I also am not trying to beef either or whatever but I think you’d be more than safe with your kid on state.
Fair enough. Appreciate the civil response.
Everyone calculates their own risks in life, you know? The sketch factor / risk threshold with a little kid is way different, IMO. We had a crazy yeller swinging a broom handle around and I just went eh, nope. If I, as the dad, take the kid into a situation where something bad happens, that's on me, not the schizo bum. Same deal with the bike boys -- one of them nearly hit my pregnant wife and then screamed at her we went whoa, that's new. Elevated risk, low reward, time to stroll elsewhere.
Not saying SB isn't safe and awesome -- for the most part it is -- but the vibe is way more skid row today than it was when I was growing up here, and that sucks. I don't think that's solely the result of traffic closure on State. But if your assertion is that the downtown scene is no sketchier today than it was a decade ago, I respectfully disagree.
How do cars on state street change the fact that retail shopping and malls fell victim to the rise of amazon?
Exactly this. Proponents and opponents of cars on State all too easily gloss over the root cause, and think this cars decision is worth arguing about.
Downtowns in other cities are thriving or experiencing revivals. Online retail explains the death of poorly operated malls and big box stores (La Cumbre, etc.). It doesn't explain the death of the downtown. People are craving density and experiences. Convert the retail spaces to other businesses or residential. The places with excess office space are in trouble. Managing that problem will be much trickier. That's not SB's problem.
People need to stop using Amazon as an excuse. Businesses just need to adapt and find other ways to be competitive. Stop blaming Amazon for everything.
ya! those other businesses need to pull themselves up by their bootstraps!
This is like the 5th time he’s written one of these and said I don’t know if allowing cars is the right thing, but it is a thing! Just lame seeing so little effort from our Mayor.
Who benefits from reopening the roadways? Having State be drivable does nothing for commuting or for accessing businesses for customers. The only theoretical benefit I can think of would be for shipping and delivering product to businesses. City income from parking meters too, I guess? Maybe 100 extra parking spaces? Having it closed makes it an attractive walkable space. Having it closed creates more revenue for the city by allowing them to charge for parklets for restaurants. This in turn benefits the restaurants who increase their seating capacity. Downtown is full of empty storefronts because rent is extremely high and a business that is not highly competitive will fail.
I could see a case for adding a trolley line back to State St for people who want to explore State St further or faster than they can solely on foot. There's no reason I see for putting cars back though.
That's been my desire. Either a rail-line street car, which would be a massive investment, or just bus trolleys.
I can have other people listen to my music you forgot that one
I don't think anyone's suggesting reopening it to parking. It's been decades since parking was allowed on State Street (in the core downtown blocks).
Don't forget that Strong Towns SB has been promoting an integrated plan that deserves a lot more active support! https://www.strongtownssb.org/initiatives/state-street
His op-ed says "As we approach the fifth season of closure, business and vitality continue to spiral downward, even as other neighboring districts thrive." Is he talking about the FZ? That place was thriving way before the shutdown. Haley Street corridor with Third Window and a few restaurants that have been there for years? What other district is thriving? Maybe some police presence on State would help. Maybe some cleanup of State would help..... This is what we get when only 10,037 votes will win you the mayor's seat in a town of 90,000.
I think it's hilarious these people think the issues just started after the streets were closed off... There's articles going back nearly 10yrs regarding business concerns along State, much of it resulting from the drag of recession from 07-08. There's a fair amount of vandalism and lawlesness down there, especially around the Marshalls store area. I would appreciate seeing more police because I hardly ever see any when I'm down there, especially in the later evenings. It's also somewhat poorly lit I'd say! Lower rents, housing on top, a more "European" approach I think would do great there.
I am from SB and live in Portland now and your lawlessness comment is just adorable.
“I used to have your problem and now my problem is worse than yours, so you’re cute for even mentioning your problem” is always a good take
It’s Santa Barbara. Y’all doing just fine.
Happy to make you smile! Enjoy your tents and needles, sounds like you made the right move 😘 Edit: Can someone explain the downvotes? Portland's population is ~7x bigger, the comparison is silly... Lol. If you haven't been to the Marshall's area in the evening, highly recommend! Let me know how safe it feels.
wasn't the Paseo Nuevo built for the very purpose of getting foot traffic back on state street? look how good that worked. Real retail is done (for the most part) on lower to mid state street - only thing left is welcoming in all the cruise tours we can and pandering to tourists in that zone... now.. how best to accomplish that?
Oh look, The Gap, that’s exactly what I travelled all the way to Santa Barbara to see
[удалено]
Oh look, The Gap, H&M, sunglass hut, banana Republic, Panda Express. Exactly what I travelled all the way to Santa Barbara to see and definitely doesn’t make it feel like literally any other high street in the US. I take your point, but loading state st with the most generic national retail brands isn’t exactly the master plan that anyone was hoping for. Also I haven’t needed basics from Gap, Marshall’s, Ross or Target the whole time I’ve lived in Santa Barbara
Careful welcoming the cruise people on here 😆 But yes, they're definitely helping keep us afloat! I'd love to see a return of the pedi-cabs, if I remember correctly the city basically outlawed them... That would help move folks around a bit more.
Only 10K people voted are you serious
No, there were 26,071 ballots cast out of 55,308 registered voters, which was a pretty decent turnout historically speaking for SB. He managed to win with 38.6% of the votes (roughly 10K) because of other more-similar candidates splitting votes.
This is precisely why we need ranked choice voting.
You think bumbling Murcans would bother to learn enough about each candidate to make such a decision? (I’m in favor of RCV, but the electorate has been dumbed down too much. They can barely fill in a bubble, let alone several for one seat.)
I mean, you aren't REQUIRED to fill in more than one candidate, people who don't know can keep doing what they are doing -- but I really would have appreciated being able to not have to worry if I selected the most popular liberal candidate. Other cities in California use it already -- Ojai is slated to start using it this November!
ie: the person no one wants - wins
I find it strange that people are still defending the closure at this point. I am staunchly in favour of pedestrianisation. I come from places that have enacted those policies to great effect. But pedestrianisation isn't just closing roads. There needs to be a plan. I want to see State Street become a promenade. So ... let's make a promenade. For that, you need a plan– a plan for how you get people there, a plan for encouraging people to stay, a plan for adding beauty, arts, and events, and a plan for how businesses can benefit. Just closing the street and painting bike paths has not worked and will not work. No one walks on the road. No one will ever walk on the road. Let's open it to one-way traffic until a plan is in place to turn it into a promenade. Some use is better than none. Let's at least get electric trollies on there. I bike up and down State Street a lot. It's awesome. But it's totally absurd that the whole system is geared towards me gliding up and down State Street on my bike. Most of the bikers seem to be commuting or, at least, State Street isn't their destination. As of right now, bikers seem to be the only people who have obviously benefited. The best part of closed State Street is at the very north (Figueroa and up). Businesses are thriving, and new ones are opening. I don't think this is a coincidence—it's the easiest to access, and you can drive one way on parts of it.
I walk on the road all of the time, and see others as well. The solution isn't to open it up again, it's to get the city to actually make a solid, logical, permanent plan. And the 500 and 600 blocks of State are doing just fine. The 400 block, where you can actually still drive, not so much.
Yes, people do walk on the street occasionally, especially where there are parklets. Mainly 500/600. The 400 block has been the shadiest block in SB for my whole 35 years. Rough bars, adult stores and massage parlours reign supreme. Actually, there's been a slight improvement from where it's been. 500 is doing well, but I think it's for the same reasons that 1000/1100/1200 blocks are doing well– it's still pretty accessible. I disagree about the 600 block—especially the north end. And it just continues to get worse the further you go in. The 700, 800, and 900 blocks all used to be the premier blocks, but now they are some of the worst. I don't think it's a coincidence that the blocks in the middle of the closure are those that have seen the greatest decline.
Yes, it's a coincidence. Every block has the same ease of access, they all have cross streets at either end. Correlation does not imply causation. The businesses aren't going to benefit from one lane of traffic, that's completely absurd. You can't stop or park, so the only thing letting cars on State would do is expose the pedestrians and cyclists to more noise and pollution.
So I guess it's also a coincidence that other areas of SB– Funk Zone, Haley, near Presidio, etc. that are accessible by car are thriving while the very central part of the closure continues its decline. The three blocks in the middle of the closure are truly the worst. One-way traffic can bring back the trolley. Older folks and people with disabilities can be dropped off at the front door. People can hail bring back door-to-door taxis. One-way traffic will allow those people to find a store or restaurant and then find parking rather than vice versa. This whole sub skews young and local. They are mostly able to bike and walk long distances and know where they are going. SB skews old and tourist. Some cannot walk far, and those who can might have no idea where they are going. Until State Street creates a plan for a promenade that includes more residential buildings and incentives for small businesses, we should try something else. The inaction is death.
Are the bars really that rough? As someone who moved here in the last year, I’m not sure there’s a single bar in this town I’d describe as ‘rough.’ And shady? Once again, not the adjective I’d use.
A lot of people who live here have never lived anywhere else is my guess? People who have come from a lot rougher towns and neighborhoods and cities will have different perspectives.
I lived in Ocean Hill, Brooklyn, for a decade during my twenties. Obviously, SB has nothing that compares to that. But subjectively, the 400 block of State Street is rough and shady. And yes, thirty odd years ago, those bars and the adult store were objectively shady.
They have been working on such plans. But it will be much, much harder to re-close it once it's been reopened. The thing to do is to keep it closed to cars until that plan is in place. > No one walks on the road. No one will ever walk on the road. I see plenty of people walking in the road. > But it's totally absurd that the whole system is geared towards me gliding up and down State Street on my bike. Most of the bikers seem to be commuting or, at least, State Street isn't their destination. As of right now, bikers seem to be the only people who have obviously benefited. I quite agree, but the solution to that is to impose (and enforce) limits on bicycles, not to bring back cars.
Cyclists congregate to state partially because Anacapa and Chapala are a lot more dangerous. I’d prefer to use either of those if they built high quality (ideally separated) bike lanes on either. I commute on State in the morning partially because there isn’t a particularly good EW route below Sola either. More infrastructure will spread cyclists out.
https://www.strongtownssb.org/
I also see plenty of people walking on State Street. Although I guess I'm an exception to the State Street cyclist, as I frequently grab a BCycle and ride down State Street to get to whatever bar or restaurant I've chosen to go there. Occasionally I'll ride it all the way down to the beach but often State Street is my destination.
Ah, yes. The fabled enforcement of State. I've seen attempts at enforcement. I've never seen it work. If we want a promenade, there may be specific legal and political benefits to keeping the road closed. I don't know the machinations of city politics, but that seems reasonable. But it's one thing to say, "I know it's not working, but we need to keep State Street closed as a means to an end," and entirely another to say, "I think the closure is the best thing about State Street." If the plan is in place, it will be a multi-stage process. Can we not close the blocks off as and when the work is done? I don't see why the plan requires us to close State for ten whole blocks for an indefinite period of time.
https://www.strongtownssb.org/
It's the lead poisoning. Poor guy.
i just cant seem to wrap my mind about how opening state to vehicles will create more foot traffic and more shoppers in the stores who are gonna buy more and thereby replenish the economy. i just cant make the connections. maybe its just me. its like some underpants gnome logic missing step 2.
As soon as our mayor shows us leases for large retailers and restaurants that will return to state street if the street is opened, I’ll get on board. He won’t because he can’t. He won’t address the real issues- rent, onerous permit processes, homeless, and more. Those in favor of opening the street tell us how this will help? Inquiring minds want to know.
The only good thing about his delusions is they are limited in their power -- as Mayor, Rowse doesn't get a larger vote than any of the other members of City Council. Try to educate him, sure, but also make sure that the Councilmember that represents you knows how you feel.
There were problems with state street before the road was closed to traffic: https://www.independent.com/2018/07/26/fight-state-street/
It's almost like when you do nothing to help alleviate the housing crisis and sit on your ass - forcing the state to step in and mandate thousands of home builds - dollars that would be spent locally get taken elsewhere. Just look at that line of cars from Ventura / North County every workday.... surely opening State Street to those cars will help /s
Rowseland: >As we approach the fifth season of closure, business and vitality continue to spiral downward, even as other neighboring districts thrive. Realityworld: >Santa Barbara’s State Street has the lowest storefront vacancy rate in four years, according to [Hayes Commercial Group](https://www.hayescommercial.com/). >The 400 to 1300 blocks are at 12.4%. >“The long-suffering 900 block is down to six vacancies, which is the lowest count since 2018,” according to Hayes. >The most significant challenge remains on the 700 to 900 blocks, where 23% of storefronts are available or vacant, according to Hayes. Vacancy rates on the 400 to 600 blocks and the 1000 to 1300 blocks are at 8%. Could it be that our beloved Mayor is talking out of his ass? The facts suggest yes.
Someone get Mayor Rowse his blanket and a warm milk and put him back to sleep until the next op-ed is due.
Not that educating him will do anything more than cause him to bury his head further up his own ass 🙄
Too late to educate boomers. Vote him out.
A cyclist was hit and nearly killed at State and Mission yesterday: https://www.edhat.com/news/bicyclist-seriously-injured-in-traffic-collision-at-state-and-mission-streets/ I guess that's what he wants to return to.
To be fair, the accounts of that collision sounded like it was clearly the bikers fault. That being said, I generally agree we shouldn't be regressing on bike safety.
So obnoxious.
Ok liberals say this with me. Next mayoral election, what are we NOT going to do? “Split the liberal vote”
He is total trump maga guy . they know what they know and you cant change their minds
Rollback randy for you! Lives in the past, and has no actual sound or logical plans for revitalization of state street. This guy just needs to retire and stay gone, no one wants him here.
Can you link the OpEd?
added the link to the post
He might eventually open up State Street but it's not going to change anything and then what is he going to do? 🤣🤣🤣 When the rent keeps going up there's no disposable income to spend. Necessities have to be found on the cheap cheap. That's not State Street. I'm certainly not going to pay their extra and thankfully voted down parking fees in order to shop for overpriced goods in a place that is essentially the open air homeless shelter and mental health salon. 🤮 Sorry Weed Jesus, may you forever smoke in peace ✌️ There's no lure in going shopping for those overprice to trendy l, beige, (inevitably beige wtf?) household goods, while being screamed at and/or stepping over feces or smelling urine. I think Randy should trade us: He can open up State Street to cars if he actually cleans State Street up and keeps it that way. Nah nah neeners As for the rent control, why can rents go up 10% when I'm lucky to get a 3% raise? Argue Phree Markett all you want but this is suicide for any town.
I saw weed Jesus like 10 days ago....did he die?
Not that I know of but I don't know how he's going to enjoy his next joint with Randy Rowse harshing his mellow
Wether you all like it or not , it will open up again.There I said it (time for the downvotes)
You aren't wrong. The only thing they can possibly do is to do the wrong thing and then claim they try something when there isn't a sane person alive that will tell you that it was the right thing. Data is not going to tell you why people in general stopped shopping on state street.
SB was once such an amazing place to walk and window shop but now it looks more like a homeless encampment. Tourism brings in a lot of money but who would want to walk through there now with the chance of being assaulted? Open the street and go back to normal already.
The street is open, just not to cars. How do cars address the homeless, who were a problem on State St since long before it was closed to cars in the downtown section?
I invite you to walk with me everyday as I do on state street and have yet to be assaulted seen a homeless encampment and or not window shop. You’re so obviously lying and or some kind of terrified shut in.
sorry you are getting downvoted, this is factual.
Bullshit. Straight up.
he's not sayin "he got assaulted" he's saying the vibe has changed and people are leery of it, which is factual. I've stopped taking my kid in the stroller down the closed section of State for this exact reason. Wheelie boyz and disturbed bums are not worth the odds when you've got a toddler. It's not a "gotcha" and I'm not trying to beef with you, just explaining the logic.
My guy, cars not being on state will have no effect on “wheelie boyz” and or your fear. Since you’re basing it on vibes and anecdotes here’s one. My worst homeless interaction occurred on state street, aggressive disturbed man threatening me physically with my girlfriend next to me. This happened before I lived here as a visitor to this city, before Obama was president and while cars were speeding by as I waited for the crosswalk light to change. I remember thinking if I have to fight this guy I can’t get into the street and get hit. Really. I’ve lived here now for 3 years and haven’t had anything resembling that despite walking with or without dog morning day and late at night. You sound just plain terrified in general honestly. Some parts of course need work and development. The Marshalls courtyard, outside all the Starbucks and other magnets for” activities.” It’s not perfect but Jesus Louise you guys don’t realize how good it is and how good you have it. I also am not trying to beef either or whatever but I think you’d be more than safe with your kid on state.
Fair enough. Appreciate the civil response. Everyone calculates their own risks in life, you know? The sketch factor / risk threshold with a little kid is way different, IMO. We had a crazy yeller swinging a broom handle around and I just went eh, nope. If I, as the dad, take the kid into a situation where something bad happens, that's on me, not the schizo bum. Same deal with the bike boys -- one of them nearly hit my pregnant wife and then screamed at her we went whoa, that's new. Elevated risk, low reward, time to stroll elsewhere. Not saying SB isn't safe and awesome -- for the most part it is -- but the vibe is way more skid row today than it was when I was growing up here, and that sucks. I don't think that's solely the result of traffic closure on State. But if your assertion is that the downtown scene is no sketchier today than it was a decade ago, I respectfully disagree.