While the coronavirus outbreak has posed profound challenges for everyone in our community, we have been heartened by the City of Mill Valley’s rapid and thoughtful response to the crisis, including the transformation of various downtown streets to people-first promenades to help encourage socially distant walking, biking, recreation, and dining. The program promotes open space, enhances social distancing opportunities, and has helped restaurants and shops rebound in these difficult economic times. For downtown restaurants specifically, the partial closures of Miller Avenue, Bernard Street, and Miller Lane have been an economic lifeline during a time of unprecedented levels of permanent restaurant closure. We’re certainly not out of the woods, but for many local businesses, including ours, this program has been a godsend. 

More recently, a compromise solution along Miller Avenue converted a full street closure to a partial one, allowing improved traffic circulation and freeing up additional parking, while still allowing Miller Avenue businesses to put tables and merchandise out on the street, and bicyclists and pedestrians to properly distance. 

Unfortunately, a vocal entity is threatening a lawsuit if the City doesn’t immediately discontinue the program, including the compromise solution along Miller Avenue. They argue the closures drive business away, when in fact the opposite is true. Numerous​ studies reveal that the thoughtful rededication of parking space and traffic lanes to enjoyable, people-friendly spaces increases foot traffic and economic activity. The idea that a business needs a parking space immediately in front of its entrance in order to lure in patrons is a dated one refuted by data and social science. 

What we’ve enjoyed most about the program is that the streets have become an extension of our downtown plaza, with children playing, dogs joining their families for al fresco dining, and residents enjoying a stroll with a coffee or beverage. It has reminded us that our most important streets best serve the community when they put people first, not cars. 

We urge the City to not bow to pressure and to continue the temporary program that’s improved the lives of so many Mill Valley residents for the better during these unprecedented times, and helped businesses weather the economic storm we still very much find ourselves in. 

Thank you for your time and consideration,

Felicia Ferguson, Luigi Petrone, and Daniele Petrone

Piazza D'Angelo