Unfunded Mandate
Boulder Has 99 Problems.
This Ain’t One.
- Public Safety
- Federal Budget Cuts
- Downtown Vacancy Rates
- Declining Sales Tax Revenues
- Homelessness
5 Reasons to Decline to Sign
1
This is an unfunded mandate
Closing West Pearl will cost millions of dollars and divert funding from more important budget priorities, such as housing affordability, fire mitigation, climate action, and homelessness.
2
West Pearl was designed to be open
The architect of Boulder’s Pedestrian Mall intentionally designed it to be four blocks – not six – based on an extensive nation-wide review of best practices.
3
Closures hurt our small businesses
The impact of the Covid-era closures was significant: businesses struggled, and sales tax revenue cratered.
4
Closures limit accessibility
Not everyone can bike or walk down West Pearl. Street-side parking and drop-off is an important accessibility feature and amenity that draws customers.
5
We can do better
Instead of expensive taxpayer-funded closures, let’s collaborate to bring more events, outdoor dining, and select street closures.
The success of our downtown comes from collaboration, not mandates.
Who Gets Hurt?
Local businesses
Many are still recovering from the challenges of COVID. A forced closure will once again jeopardize their livelihoods and their employees.