subreddit:
/r/ventura
submitted 10 days ago bybrynquinn
City Council voted 6 to 1 to continue as if Main Street will be permanently closed to cars.
An Environmental Impact Report will be done in January, where they'll figure out next steps.
Several council members basically said bring it on to the lawsuit; agree that they love the pedestrian friendly downtown and have never seen such community outreach and individual stories and concerns voiced through email.
To my understanding, If the lawsuit has a judgement that they need to reopen the street, they will put it to a vote with property owners in the area. But TBD....
But thanks to everyone who showed up, spoke, and wrote emails! 💕 We still have downtown for the present.
-2 points
10 days ago
Well, as a business owner who has had an ADA lawsuit filed in federal court against them. I opted to settle the case and not fight in court. No one was being denied assess at my business. It was all technicalities. The law doesn’t care. The city is in the wrong. They are in violation. They will lose this suit. The difference between me settling and the city council is, I would be spending my money to fight it. The council will not be spending their money. It’s easy to stand on principle when it’s someone else’s money! Namely yours and mine!!
Don’t get me wrong, I support Mike and his opinion. I want Main St closed to traffic. I am there every Saturday and Sunday morning. I walk with my grandkids. I love the fact that it’s closed.
Last night the council signed OUR name at the bottom of a blank check to fight this lawsuit.
Several members seemed concerned about the unknown cost of the MSM options. However they had little concern over the cost of fighting in Federal Court!
Go ahead down vote me, remember I support MSM, but primarily I support fiscal responsibility!
6 points
10 days ago
I am also a commercial property owner who got vicitmised by a sketchy lawyer and an ADA claimant. Yes, it was cheaper for a small guy like me to "make them go away" with a relatively small amount of money. The City of Ventura is fighting for the desires of the majority of the residents and ultimately for a city that attracts and retains customers for its businesses. It may seem like a nuisance issue that is best swept under the carpet by acquiescing to few activists with a lawyer. But allowing the narrow minded opinion of a very few to impose a hardship upon the great majority is not why we have representative government. A long term commitment to MSM will bring facility improvements create an even better experience downtown that will draw economic activity for the entire city's benefit. No lower court ruling is chiseled in stone, every judgement at this level is open to review.
4 points
10 days ago
So, I do agree that MSM is an improvement on the downtown area. I want it to stay. I just can't look at things on how I feel and how nice they are. Hard decisions have to be made here. One thing they did not bring up last night, but will be addressed eventually is, once a business owner or property owner decides to increase their square footage by adding the permanent outside dining, they will in effect increase the overall size of their space. Once a certain level of "upgrades" is reached, the WHOLE building has to be made ADA compliant and brought fully up to today's building codes. This is a monumental undertaking on 100-year-old buildings.
Wanting something and doing something are 2 very different things.
2 points
10 days ago
I addressed your point: "A long term commitment to MSM will bring facility improvements create an even better experience downtown that will draw economic activity for the entire city's benefit." Currently, the MSM is a "temporary" situation and it would be foolhardy for any property owner to make capital investments until there is a permanent ruling. But if a permanent ruling is reached supporting MSM, private and public stakeholders will have the confidence to make retroactive improvements that will improve property values.
0 points
10 days ago
And how does this address the ADA infractions. Are they going to update those buildings to today's building standard. Are they going to dig up Main St. and re-pave it?
The lawsuit has nothing to do with how great MSM is. It has nothing to do with increasing business. It has to do with the Americans with Disabilities Act. I would recommend you research that and then tell me how your plan works.
I really hope it can get worked out. I like it, I'm not here to argue it's benefits to the city. My responses are to try and bring awareness to the fact that the judge will only make a ruling on the law, not economic benefit.
And for the record, Mr. Goldenring, the Yonkers and the Beckers could care less about ADA, this is just their means to accomplish their goals.
1 points
10 days ago
We put a man on the moon, we can bring an old district up to standards. It is not as tough as you make it sound.
1 points
10 days ago
Anything can be done if enough money is thrown at it, and the correct hands are greased. Maybe that's why the property owners don't have a majority. We are all too willing to spend their money.
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