HomeMy WebLinkAbout5/22/2020 Item 1, Boswell
From:M Boswell <
Subject:Support for Open SLO
Dear Mayor and Council Members:
Please support full implementation of the proposed Open SLO program. If we want to communicate that
downtown SLO is open and safe then half measures or incremental implementation is not the right approach.
Most folks I have spoken with continue to be very worried about their ability to maintain social distancing
when on narrow sidewalks and inside businesses; they want more pedestrian space. Also, I think folks are
much more likely to go out to eat if they can sit outside rather than inside. Therefore, if we want Open SLO to
achieve its desired effect and communicate to folks that they can be safely downtown at any time, it should be
implemented in full.
As much as we want this to be successful and see a re-opening of downtown there is the risk of it being too
successful and we see unsafe crowd sizes. This can be avoided if, for example, street closures occur seven days
a week. We want to avoid a Farmer’s Market effect where one day of street closures becomes a destination
event for the county. Closing streets every day will help spread out the demand which is better for businesses
and safer for their patrons.
--
Michael R. Boswell
485 Bluerock Dr
mboswell@outlook.com
1