Main Street closure

A downtown gallery owner presented a painting titled 'Let's Open Main Street,' citing accessibility for her older customer base.

Said the closure and dirty parking structures keep seniors away from downtown, and asked for red-light signals at the Telephone Road crossing where she works as a crossing guard.

A Ventura Theater employee demanded a timeline on the unresolved parking lease and barricaded lot after six years and a month with no staff response.

Urged keeping Main Street closed, citing community gatherings and dancing on the street, and said most Facebook comments opposed reopening.

Criticized the council for not moving the November discussion up sooner and questioned whether there are ulterior political motives given the project's ballooning cost.

CEO of New Line Partners; cited HDL sales tax data showing Main Street Moves area down 7.5% in Q4 2025; asked the council to agendize a formal review and independent economic analysis.

Former mayor; cited ~6% retail vacancy and new businesses leasing downtown; urged the council not to stifle the downtown renaissance.

Owner of Bombay Bar and Grill; joined 72 businesses asking the council to reopen Main Street, saying the closure affects the whole downtown network.

Co-owner of Across the Pond Alehouse; fourth-generation Venturan supporting the closure, urging the city to move forward.

Co-owner of Folk; representing 72 businesses supporting reopening; reported worst decline in 9.5 years and harassment over his position.

Owner of Rocks and Drams; previously supported the closure but now asks the council to reconsider and put the topic on the ballot sooner.

Alleged the April 14 4-3 vote on reopening discussion violated the Brown Act; urged the council to keep Main Street closed to cars... actually urged consistency and later supported reopening parking.

Real estate broker; reported downtown vacancies, a building sold at a ~$2 million loss, and zero leasing inquiries; urged reopening.

Supported the 72 businesses seeking to reopen Main Street, calling the closure a made-up problem threatening downtown's future.

Criticized the council for not listening to 72 businesses; suggested a hybrid trial opening weekdays; defended Alessandro against aggression claims.

Read letters from Fluid State and Paradise Pantry urging the council to stand by its September 2025 car-free Main Street decision and focus on implementation.

Downtown business owner supporting the closure; called opposition a misinformation campaign and urged the council to lead.

Owner of Bellringer Brewing; asked for clarity and consistency so businesses can invest in parklets, and urged the November item remain a progress update.

Owner of Findings Market and Findings Flea; her Main Street location's numbers doubled; urged the council to stay the course.

Westside resident and small business owner volunteering with the DVP Community Enrichment Fund; urged investment in the downtown vision.

The Tiki Girl owner presented a petition signed by 62 downtown businesses asking the council to reopen Main Street, citing closures and lost customer flow.

The Immigrant Sun Cafe owner pleaded with the council to listen to 60 business owners and reopen Main Street.

Read a long list of struggling or closing downtown businesses and said the closure is no longer sustainable.

Said she supports the closure but asked the council to deliver visible progress, banners and spruced-up planters.

Said he supports Main Street Moves but wants a better forum to hear from all businesses about why support has flipped.