We have a world-class season and a very quiet six months. The Festival matters, and it isn't the whole economy.
A downtown that only works from May to October isn't sustainable for businesses open twelve months a year.
I'll champion more patio and pedestrian space in our busiest blocks, designed with the businesses and with a parking plan attached, not sorted out afterward. And a proper traffic study with downtown businesses at the table. That's good for residents, and good for the people who run businesses here twelve months a year.
Build on what's proven
The BIA already runs pieces of the year-round playbook: the Outdoor Patio Program, Car-Free Friday, Winter Wander-land. I'd build on what's proven, resource it properly, and back shoulder-season and winter draws.
Pedestrians first
Pedestrian safety has to come first on downtown streets. I'd support targeted traffic-calming: crosswalk visibility, signal timing for how people actually cross, and speed enforcement where it's been raised as a problem, rather than a blanket approach that treats every street the same.
Real notice, not a two-week window
Downtown businesses already have a formal channel into City planning. The real question is whether it works. If the gap is real, my fix is making the existing channel work: enough notice on policy reviews and capital projects to respond meaningfully, not a two-week window buried in summer.
A proper study
Could a one-way core and a roundabout cut congestion and make room for patios and parking? Put it to a proper traffic study, with downtown businesses at the table.
