Would you pay $688?
Your Money, No Plan
The City has spent over $5 Million on the downtown street closure, most of which came from money earmarked for infrastructure projects like paving our streets.
Downtown's street closure - Main Street Moves - is an unfunded project of $55 million. That's $688 per Ventura taxpayer. Sources.
Our Pothole Money
In 2016, Ventura voters approved a sales tax increase, Measure O, to fix aging infrastructure , like paving and potholes, and improve public safety.
Instead, the City has already redirected $3.25 Million of these funds for Main Street Moves.(1)
Now, the City is asking for an additional 1% sales tax. Ventura residents have received a survey from City Manager Bill Ayub, which highlights priorities like safety and streets. It carefully never mentions why they need more money for repaving our streets. Nor does it mention that the City can use this money for downtown's Main Street Moves.
A Yes vote for the proposed sales tax could become a Yes vote to pay for the closure, even though the City markets it otherwise.
(1) $2 million to purchase traffic barricades (bollards), with $750,000 more planned for 2027.Source: City Staff Report, March 2026, Page 17.
$539,769.67 spent to date as of May 6, 2026, per Greg Morley, City of Ventura's CFO. 805.654.7823; gmorley@cityofventura.ca.gov