It’s difficult to dispute that State Street is the premier street in Santa Barbara, no matter what your stance is on reopening it. Let’s bring parades back! Just because the street is closed to vehicle traffic does not mean that we can’t move the barricades and open it up a few times a year for a parade. Imagine Old Spanish Days back on State Street! The spillover to Mercado De La Guerra and other venues that celebrate the weekend would be within a couple of blocks instead of walking up from the water.
Could anything be better than the Summer Solstice Parade up State Street? The floats would soar above the sidewalks where families will have more room to spread out than on Santa Barbara Street. They can grab a bite to eat, run into a store, and stroll the street they may have not visited in a while. There is access to parking garages, and speaking of those, let’s keep them free for parade days! It will only encourage people to visit and shop downtown.
But what about the costs to the city? Stores and restaurants will benefit with increased sales which means the city benefits by increased sales tax revenue. Whatever cost difference to temporarily move the barricades back and forth would likely be made up for with that revenue.
It’s time to think differently about State Street! The jewel of our city is underused. While I strongly support keeping State Street free from vehicle traffic, I think we can make better use of it. More options will be available once we bring people back downtown to eat and shop. With more sales tax revenue we may be able to expand the shuttle service for State Street, or perhaps bring in a small trolley allowing for hopping on and off. State Street is the heart of the city with music venues, museums, theatres, restaurants and shops all within a few blocks. We are so lucky to have this! There are few places in this world as special as Santa Barbara and if we envision it more like a small European town where people walk, shop and live in the community we can truly make it that. Bringing parades back to State Street is a great start.
**A follow up article addressing the proposed State Street Plan will be forthcoming! In that plan it addresses the issue of parades and the desire to bring them back to State Street but since that plan will take many years to implement if approved, let’s not wait to bring back parades!
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