Thank you very much to all of you for supporting this petition! We lost by a unanimous Santa Cruz City Council vote, not for lack of effort on our part. We did have some success at least potentially getting more vital parking for people on Myrtle St. Although, I’ll believe it when I see it (I don’t have much trust in the representations of the TPWC based on the myriad, intentional deceptions and misrepresentations they’ve made so far on this issue).

If at anytime in the future, any of the 112 of you that supported this petition ever learn about a neighbor being assaulted or hurt in any way whatsoever going to or from their remotely parked car as a result of the elimination of parking near their home on Laurel St., please contact me. I hope to god it never happens, but fear the worst. Be careful out there!

Similarly, if at anytime over the years you hear of anyone suffering from accessibility issues as a result of restricted access to their own homes due to the elimination of parking on Laurel St., please let me know.

Likewise, please let me know if ever you hear of newly entitled (young) cyclists or skateboarders getting hurt racing down the steep, Laurel Street hill (raceway) once it is foolishly designed with bollards to embolden more (21%-500% projected) users (rather than simply and wisely directing all those users to the safe, new, $11.4 million, multi-use Rail Trail just a few blocks away).

I can’t say I’m not disappointed that the Council didn’t choose to try all the many other solutions first, without removing Laurel Street parking, and just seeing how it goes. And I am enormously disappointed if not disgusted especially in the women on the Santa Cruz City Council, that didn’t insist on accommodating the safety first of women and disabled people that live on Laurel St., now and in the future. (It’s like minorities not voting for civil rights…)

Anyhow, best of luck to each and everyone of you. Be safe out there, and thank you, again.

All the best,

- Robin