San Bruno group receives grant to better downtown

“For us, San Bruno is more than just a place, it’s our home, it’s where we have our businesses,” she said. “We spend a lot of time there and we personally want to see it thrive. We’re not just business owners, we’re neighbors, parents and friends who want to bring some life back to downtown.” 

The grant will go toward funding an upcoming Easter event on April 19 in Centennial Plaza, complete with music, an Easter basket raffle, egg hunt and the Easter bunny.  

Events like these — including an October trick-or-treat event that also highlights community participation at all ages, Traxler said — are meant to bring people together. 

“We’re grateful to the San Bruno Community Foundation for giving us this grant. It is not lost on us where these resources come from,” she said. “We want to shed some light on that and accept the grant with utmost respect and gratitude and really just bring the community together and bring some joy to downtown.” 

The organization is also fundraising for a mural and public art project in line with city policy and has floated the idea of a downtown night market, Traxler, who owns downtown business Twice As Nice, said. 

San Bruno’s downtown has been suffering from ongoing anger around its beleaguered parking meter program, she said. While Traxler doesn’t want to dissuade people from speaking about their concerns, she does want to encourage them to support downtown restaurants and shops. 

“As a small business, it’s hurting us now. People don’t want to come downtown,” she said. “It’s a fine line, it’s a fine balance. I’m hoping that with our group we can add that layer of positivity and bring people back downtown, get the community engaged, working towards a common goal.”