Mailbag

Main Steet trial closure a waste of money

Your editorial ("Embrace change for downtown," Jan. 18-24) is correct in identifying some merchants' fear of change as the problem. This alleged trial will tell us almost nothing. A meaningful trial was sabotaged by the leadership of the Downtown Business Improvement District (BID). The city council caved to them as usual.

This alleged trial closure is a joke and a waste of $238,000 in taxpayer dollars. It is the district's plan instead of a true trial. That's why I voted against it. The closure on five large special event weekends will tell us nothing about increasing business because large crowds will be there anyway. The 12 Tuesday night closures are just a waste of taxpayer money. People want to enjoy outdoor dining in the daytime, not on cold nights. On the City Council trip to Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade, we were told that outdoor dining was key to their tremendous success.

I feel that the editorial staff's pledge to withdraw support if this "experiment'" fails is a mistake. The improvement district's leadership has designed this plan to fail. This plan isn't a trial; it's a sham.

As I said at the time of the vote, people will flock to the more appealing Pacific City and Strand projects when they develop. Main Street will sink further into its "booze and cruise" abyss. At some point, these improvement district leaders will beg the City Council to make Main Street a pedestrian mall. My guess is that a new council satisfied with the success of Pacific City and the Strand will respond, "Sorry, you'll have to struggle along as best you can."

Dave Sullivan

Huntington Beach