How the Mini-Loop Hurts Local Businesses and Therefore the Local Economy

By Anna May

The 4-3 vote of the city council in November to turn our downtown into a series of one-way streets is counter-intuitive to the growth and morale of our local small businesses and their continued longevity.

For those who live on the other side of town and think the downtown mini-loop issue doesn't affect you, please reconsider! This directly or indirectly affects ALL Hayward neighborhoods.

Two months ago I attended the Alameda County Transportation Authority meeting at which the funding was approved for the mini-loop project. Although funding was approved, it was with the understanding that the money for the project would not be needed for at least another year. Furthermore, a couple of those on the panel who voted in favor of funding the project were very clear about their dissatisfaction with the project and were quite vocal about their understanding that a new city council will be voted in for the June 3rd election, and they anticipated that this mini-loop issue would be in front of them again.

Not only have I talked about how we must be more "business-friendly" at city hall, I know from personal experience what needs to change. In 1995, I opened my small restaurant in Hayward after going through the appropriate city departments. Like many business owners who pursue their dreams of entrepreneurship, I worked 7 days a week and worried about being able to pay the staff, the suppliers and the rent on the building. Because the responsibility of the restaurant's survival was on my shoulders, I forced myself to be creative about building the revenues necessary to stay in business.

I know and understand what those downtown businesses are feeling and I know what their concerns are for their futures relating to this mini-loop issue. I intend to change the mini-loop project in order improve Hayward's reputation as being unfriendly to businesses. Spending tens of millions of our taxpayers dollars on something that is detrimental and unwanted does not make sense. Hayward will "lose" the money if it's not spent but I do not believe that we should spend money for the sake of spending money.

Please vote for me and other candidates for the Hayward City Council who share the same common-sense values about city decision-making that I have. Allow me to use my experience as a small business owner to help improve the business climate in our city...