From: Ernie Carpenter
Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2026 1:56 PM
To: City Council <[email protected]>
Cc: Mary Gourley <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Two way streets
Dear Council,
I treated the legislative hearing on the two-way streets like a quasi-judicial hearing in my last email. Obvious legislative. I encourage you to discuss this decision in your meanderings about town. I am certain it will come to you. I predict this will be an issue in the next election cycle.
What I said and don't understand is the rapid decision, like you wanted to get rid of it, now, today. That will not happen. And, two of you claimed not to have had your minds made up going into the hearing. Was the hearing that powerful?
You think you know what a "walkable community" is. If that were true, you would know there is no walkable downtown in Sebastopol's future. A two-way street system will not make downtown more accessible. In fact, a left turn merry-go-round all around the town.
I accused you of wishful thinking regarding the previously well-studied and rejected bypass. Magically, folks will take alternative routes. Did any of you read the City and County files on previous studies? It is wishful thinking to believe the change you have requested will deliver any results for a more vibrant downtown.
Losing parking will lose business. Moving the elderly and the handicapped away will lose business.
I want to reiterate that the 15-20,000 unincorporated citizens who shop and love Sebastopol may be harder to entice into town. You need to pay attention to traffic engineers, not the fantasy of "walkable" downtown. Bicycles? They have their lanes. What is the Sebastopol bicycle fantasy? Sixty-year-olds biking into downtown for ...what? Do you know the median age of your population?
Sincerely,
Ernie Carpenter
Economic Voter in Sebastopol