Santa Cruz needs a summertime pedestrian zone to enhance its reputation, improve safety and pull folks in, write four members of Pacific for People. The grassroots group is intent on seeing downtown become a more vibrant space, a goal city-dwellers have aspired to since the 1989 earthquake left downtown in rubble. At least 15 cities in California have already established permanent pedestrian streets, they write. It’s time for Santa Cruz to create its own weekend version.

