Downtown BID Members' Plan for Closing Main Street Adopted

The City Council voted 6-1 to begin in March a temporary closure of Main Street each Tuesday for "Locals Night." As part of this option, the Council also agreed to close the streets for the full weekends for five major events next year. Readers of this blog will recognize that the plan is partly driven by what was written here in July, A Sensible Plan for Closing Main Street.

The mayor, who was the sole vote against this option, excoriated the Downtown BID as whiners, and admonished the council for backing up the downtown merchants' plan. Probably not surprising given he was the main instigator of this current effort.

Councilmembers Cook, Hansen, Bohr  and Hardy all rightly pointed out that the stakeholders' buy-in on closing Main Street was crucial. Councilmember Green poked holes in the traffic plan for a temporary closure and Councilmember Coerper made the motion that was eventually passed.

Much praise was given to City Staff, Economic Development Director Stanley Smalewitz and the other members of the committee for addressing so many of the needs of the Downtown area. This praise was richly deserved. The committee brought forth many areas of concern for Downtown and Main Street, work that will provide the basis for improvements in the future.

Downtown BID members deserve praise too for elucidating so many of the issues that would have been lost otherwise without their participation and for crafting together the compromise plan that was adopted. This is how government is supposed to work.

Comments

[Astor Wilkes]

Dave Sullivan's rhetorical jargon and mudslinging of the BID and downtown residents is classic 'Sullivan Hemorrhaging and Hysterics'. As a self proclaimed history buff, Mr. Sullivan compared the advisors, authors, and forefathers of the U.S. Constitution with the valid concerns of all the other city council members, business owner's, and downtown citizen's request for a more reasonable and thorough study of parking, traffic flow, and public restrooms for a single town's possible promenade. An accurate analogy? Sullivan's performance of a 'sore looser' exhibits a weak and discreditable public presence. We have observed Sullivan's name calling and public lashing of citizens that have contrastive opinions to the ideas he brings to the table. Not a very prayerful or Roman Catholic attitude. This is the City of Huntington Beach, not the Country of Dave Sullivan.

Last Monday night's city council meeting also brought forth another public scolding by a future Sullivanite. Mr. Hansen's contrived and infantile tirade under the guise of 'questioning' to the public comments of Tim Geddes presented the demeanor of another up and coming H.B. dictator. Public comments are designed for citizens to express their opinions and concerns without retaliatory government antics. Mr. Hansen's follow up to Mr. Geddes comments was nothing more than a shallow personal attack. Shame on Mr. Hansen.....how would he like some personal insults about hair transplants or body height?

Last Monday night's council vote for the direction of Main Street seems to be sensible, informed, and considerate. Let's hope they keep on moving in this direction. Please note the hard work and efforts of the BID, Stanley Smalewitz, and City Staffers.