Restaurants and retail are the lifeblood of our vibrant downtowns, the University Avenue and California Avenue areas. We have an obligation to do our very best to help keep these commercial districts afloat. We cannot standby and let them fail. 
 
Governor Gavin Newsom’s guidelines for reopening restaurants and businesses require 6-foot spacing for safety. This reduces permitted restaurant and retail occupancy by 60-75%, making it very challenging for these businesses to remain profitable and survive.

The most efficient way to help our local retailers and restaurants survive without large subsidies from landlords or our strained city budget, is to have more outdoor space available for them to serve customers. Both state and county health rules encourage outdoor dining. Town and Country, as a private land owner, has already provided for additional safe outdoor spaces for its restaurants and retailers.

By closing portions of University and California Avenues to cars and traffic during this crisis, it will open up the streets to pedestrian traffic and expanded dining and retail space. Retailers and restaurants on side streets can add parklets in front of their businesses, converting 1-2 parking spaces into additional seating or spaces. 
 
Let’s support our local businesses while practicing safe social distancing! 

As these COVID-19 safety responses are fast becoming our new normal for the foreseeable future, parking and traffic flow will not be affected by these street closures. For example, University Avenue parking spaces represent less than 4% of the 4400 downtown spaces and even prior to COVID-19 we had 25% empty capacity. And, with current substantially reduced traffic levels there have been plenty of parking spaces. Delivery, disabled access, and pickup/takeout access can be provided by adding to the 30 minute parking spaces already available on side streets.

With summer approaching and schools wrapping up for the year, it’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy safe family time outside while also encouraging and supporting our local economy.

We can join Menlo Park, Los Altos, Mountain View, Redwood City, San Carlos, and San Mateo in beginning these efforts at safely opening sectors allowed under state guidelines and aid our local economic recovery, giving local businesses a chance at getting back on their feet and doing what they love best - serving our community!