It isn't exactly "his" idea. Earlier that same day, San Jose's Mayor and a San Jose Councilmember held a press conference where they proposed "Al Fresco San Jose," a concept that sounds very similar: .

Among Bay Area outlets also reported here:

And their proposal is similar to a concept floated by San Mateo's Mayor a few days earlier.

LB Mayor Garcia didn't mention any of thos in a 5:45 p.m. Tweets later that day (May 8), combining prudent COVID-19 protections with politically correct urbanist terminology:

[Scroll down for further.]

We have an opportunity during this crisis to reimagine our public spaces. Physical distancing has reminded us of how narrow some sidewalks are and how important bike networks can be. And restaurants are imagining a future where folks can safely dine on sidewalks and open spaces.//

I’m proposing legislation for the City Council to consider creating a new open streets initiative to meet this challenge. Thx @Jeannine4D2 , @suziepriceLB3 @RobertoUranga & @ALAustinII for championing this initiative as co-authors.

I’m proposing legislation for the City Council to consider creating a new open streets initiative to meet this challenge. Thx @Jeannine4D2, @suziepriceLB3, @RobertoUranga & @ALAustinII for championing this initiative as co-authors.

— Robert Garcia (@RobertGarciaLB) May 9, 2020

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(LBREPORT.com speculates: might parts of 2nd St. in Belmont Shore; downtown and Broadway corridor areas and/or parts of Atlantic Ave. be good candidates for this? Perhaps other areas?)

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Belmont Shore La Strada owner Lisa Ramelow (who currently operates on a take-out basis) didn't quibble about the political DNA of the idea; she acknowledged on her Facebook page that something similar has already been proposed in Tampa and moved on to tackle its substance as potentially applied locally (4 p.m. hour May 9):

...I don't think completely closing 2nd St. would ever happen. That would be like trying to get the breakwater removed.

I don't think you could close down one side or the other, and just have the other side become a "2-lane street" Whichever side you chose, everyone would complain.

"Why isn't my side closed? I don't like this? Why did they close my side?? I don't like this."

Let’s take the idea of closing one lane on each side. Hmmmm. You would have a row of parked cars (not sure how they would get in there) and then a closed lane. The diners would be too close to the cars going by in the lane by the median. And the cars going in and out of parking spots would endanger patrons and workers.

The only way I could see this working is if you took one, or preferably two, parking spaces out in front of a still operating business. You could conceivably place several tables out there on the street, and have them be comfortably distanced.

This reminds me of the "parklet" idea that was floated years ago. I personally was not fond of it, mostly because I would not want to sit so close to where care were driving by....

...But now, in this new and unprecedented time, these might work. I do recall that they were on some sort of raised wooden platform so that they were a little elevated. There would have to be some sort of bar or "barrier" that would prevent a patron from accidentally falling over into the traffic.

You would also have to get your neighbors consent. For instance, there are retail spaces on either side of me and they are very nice neighbors -- I would not blame them if they did not want a parking spot in front of their business being taken up by a parklet. It wouldn't make sense for them...

I do have faith that the [Belmont Shore] Parking Commission would be willing to give up the meter revenue for a few spots. Maybe the city would be willing to give up their parking ticket revenue?...

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LBREPORT.com will report details of the Long Beach Mayor/Councilmembers' agenda item when it surfaces in the coming days. Further to follow on LBREPORT.com.

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