Public Comment

In her March 16 editorial regarding the mayor’s Public Commons for Everyone initiative, the owner/editor of the Daily Planet suggested the woes of our commercial districts, particularly the downtown, have little or nothing to do with inappropriate street behavior alienating otherwise eager patrons. Heck, that happens in all our other commercial districts and it doesn’t appear to have any negative effect. The problem instead boils down to two things: “Parking and stores . . . And that’s the main reason the retail stores have largely departed from downtown Berkeley, both Telegraph and Shattuck, and will continue to depart.” 

Though I do believe that inappropriate street activity and aggressive panhandling do deter shoppers (we have plenty of e-mails from Berkeley citizens who testify to that fact, but let’s save that for another letter), I agree with Ms. O’Malley. I dare say the mayor does as well, acknowledging in his PCEI referral to the city manager that “throughout the city, merchants and community members cite a variety of issues including a lack of parking, an onerous permitting process, regional economic and shopping trends, slumping sales due to Internet activity, and the physical and social deterioration of our streets.” The PCEI is an attempt to deal with one aspect of our retail climate. 

But let’s get back to parking. A timely topic since the Oxford lot has recently been wiped clean of metered off-street parking, the Center Street lot is overdue for seismic rebuilding, and the Downtown Area Planning Advisory Committee is currently wrangling with UC’s proposal for additional downtown parking. I would encourage Ms. O’Malley to reaffirm her assessment about downtown parking—that there is not enough—loud enough for DAPAC members to hear. (Of course, I am assuming that Ms. O’Malley considers the flight of retail stores from the downtown a bad thing, and something we should be actively addressing.) It will surprise some, as Ms. O’Malley has, in the past, publicly opposed increasing parking downtown. But perhaps her change of heart will alert others to a situation that is worsening with each parking space taken out of commission. 

I do empathize with Ms. O’Malley’s virtual teeth clenching about parking. For a whole variety of reasons, my priority would be to encourage alternative means for coming downtown or for venturing anywhere around Berkeley. I too shudder at the car-oriented L.A. model. But the reality is more complicated: large areas of Berkeley are not served by transit. We have large populations of seniors, young parents, and disabled who rely on single-occupancy vehicles for basic transportation. And finally, we have potential shoppers, many who live within our borders, who choose their shopping destinations based upon ease of parking. El Cerrito, Emeryville, Walnut Creek—here they come. 

It is a complicated issue, one that can be nuanced, balanced and negotiated without selling our environmental souls. UC already has the go-ahead to build a significant amount of new parking. The city should be working with them to locate that parking where it can serve all its residents—and more—not just those who attend or work at UC. That’s why we created the DAPAC. 

So let’s be proactive regarding our community’s business partners. A vibrant, busy economy downtown will not only benefit the businesses, but the increased sale tax revenue will provide the resources for services for those forced to live on the streets. 

Thank you, Becky, for stating the obvious. Please say it again. 

Laurie Capitelli represents District 5 on the Berkeley City Council.