Randy Rowse: Save the $100 million, and open State Street to cars, add lighting

The “Master Plan” for State Street has been adopted by City Council after six years ofindecision and stagnation. Property values and commercial rents have fallen, emergency response times are impeded and traditional cultural activities have been displaced for seven summers now. The “Plan” which is yet to be technically engineered is estimated to cost nearly$100 million which the city doesn’t currently have. All of this to adopt a concept which hasbeen tried and failed all over the country for many decades. It is a road to the past, not thefuture for our downtown business corridor and that is the primary reason I have opposed it.The positive developments, i.e., the redevelopment of the Paseo Nuevo mall into offices andhousing, the SB Film Festival Theater Complex on State and the Music Academy of the Westare fortunately happening not because of the current condition of State Street, but in spite of it.Santa Barbara remains a renowned international destination and an incredible c