Downtown cinema gets green light. City Council votes unanimously despite vocal public opposition

Although the San Mateo City Councilmembers have all publicly stated their support for the downtown cinema project, they continued to hear dissension as well as support from the public late into the night before casting their votes to approve the closing of Main Street, the B Street Ramp and the driveway to the Main Street garage.

The hearing was a result of a lawsuit by a group of downtown merchants who felt that their concerns over traffic, parking and access were not adequately addressed. Despite more than a year in court, San Mateo Lockworks owner Gary DeSantis said the battle is not over and that he will sue the city again to stop the project.

But the unanimous vote and the street closures are essentially the first step in moving forward with the cinema project, which would use Main Street between First and Third avenues as a pedestrian promenade rather than a vehicle roadway and parking lot. The theater would border the railroad tracks between Second and Third avenues.

Local business owners and residents spoke to express their concern over what they feel is a violation of their rights.

"You are ignoring certain people's basic rights," said one longtime resident. "These people have been using that property for 100 years. Don't deprive them of something they are entitled to."

The general feeling from those opposed to the cinema project was that the council should open the decision up to a public vote.

"Why can't it be put to a public vote? That would be the democratic and fair way to handle it," said Carol Schick, a 44-year resident of San Mateo.

But there were also those who stated support for the project, saying that the cinema would provide a good meeting place for teens, seniors and families.

Several local teenagers addressed the fact that they have to travel to either Redwood City or South San Francisco to see a movie.

Dennis Haysbert, who grew up in North Central San Mateo and is now an actor who most recently appeared in the feature film Love and Basketball, addressed the council to show his support for the cinema.

He recalled an incident when he was a teenager and three of his friends had to go to Millbrae to see a movie. "When we got out of the car -- four black youths -- we were surrounded by Millbrae police," Haysbert said, adding that San Mateo needs its own theater.

Many more residents opposed to the cinema noted their concern about how the construction would affect business in the area, while amplifying traffic and parking problems which already exist downtown.

The city plans to build a five-story, 380-space garage between First and Second avenues, but opponents worry that the new garage -- which provides just 14 spaces more than the current garage -- will cause a traffic and parking nightmare in the area.

However, business owner Hamdi Ugur of Spiedo Ristorante said the cinema will provide a much needed boost to the San Mateo nightlife. "It will be good for the nightlife and great for the businesses," Ugur said. "It will make life more enjoyable."