Chris Richards asks Alex Stillman, Stacy Atkins-Salazar, Sarah Schaefer, Gregory Daggett, Genevieve Serna, Dana Quillman, Shea Freedomhowler…

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Removal of Parking in front of Local businesses on K Street in Arcata.

What is/are your opinions on the proposed removal of parking on K Street in front of local businesses?  

— Chris Richards

Responses

Alex Stillman

K Street is a major route from Samoa to Spear Avenue.

The street is used as parking for major events on the Plaza and for the existing businesses. I do not support removal of parking on K Street. I do support better visibility at the corners, school zone, reduced speed limit and highly visible crosswalks. 

Gregory Daggett

My view on this issue is not to remove parking on K Street and to encourage bicyclist to use a much safer route on L Street. Over 1,200 people have told our City Leaders that they wanted L Street to be a linear park from 7th to Samoa Blvd. The City Council on the Final Gateway Area Plan vote put the road back into the Plan. K Street businesses in the present and future will need parking, bus stops, loading and unloading locations to function. The sped limit for K Street is 25 mph, a safe speed. The problem is too many people are speeding, looking at their phones, and under the influence. Arcata Police told me at one 4-way stop intersection, three cars blew through the stop sign looking at their cell phone, in a 40-minute time frame. In the last two years a mother, students, and others have been killed and seriously injured in Arcata. I also shared an article from the New York Times, to the City Council “Why Are American Drivers So Deadly?   https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/10/magazine/dangerous-driving.html

Stacy Atkins-Salazar

As someone who owns a business on K Street I have had to recuse myself on this issue and must leave the decision making to my peers on the council. 

Generally speaking, we need to find ways to slow cars down on some of our main streets (G, H, K, 11th, Alliance…) and provide safe access for people who want to use alternative methods of transportation like walking and biking, while also preserving parking.