AgdaPkt 2020-10-26 Joint SA PFA - Laserfiche WebLink

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From: Antoine Brooks To: GRP -City Council Subject: 1303 Main St - Redwood Roller Rink Date: Monday, October 26, 2020 7:32:32 PM Good Afternoon Council Members, I am humbly writing to you today regarding the Redwood Roller Rink building located at 1303 Main Street. My name is Antoine Brooks, and I am currently a Major in the US Army, having served this country for a total of 35 years in the military to date. Before becoming a commissioned officer, I enlisted in the Army as a Private, straight out of High School at 17 years old. My background in the military is to make a point to influential and instrumental the Redwood Roller Rink has been in my life. I was born and grew up in East Palo Alto, and as a child, was relegated to the city for the first 6/7 years of my life. Until one day, a classmate of mine invited me to a birthday party at the skating rink. I attended the party, and during the session, I signed up for their Saturday Afternoon skating lessons. From that day forward, the rink became a centerpiece in my life, as it did for many others. It was the one place that, as a child, we could go and feel safe, meet new people regardless of their background, where they were from, or what color they were. It was a safe place for many. No matter where life took me (Germany, Korea, Afghanistan, Iraq, etc.) I always found my way back to my safe place until the evening it closed. The rink has offered many children opportunities that they would never have had. Over the years the rink has produced multiple Regional, National, and World Champion skaters. The owners and coaches created a culture that was that of family and held you to a standard like no other. They gave kids like me the drive and confidence to do well in everything we attempted. Nothing is impossible and strive for your dreams no matter how many times you fall down. In skating, that was literal. The bottom line is the Redwood Roller Rink was not just a building or business; it is an institution! Understanding to prerequisites needed to be viewed as a historic building, I would ask that the Members of the council look at the history of the rink and not only the building's age. The Redwood Roller Rink brought Redwood City to light on an international level, with the number of skaters that would come to the city every year from all over the world and stay for extended periods in the local hotels and spending in the local economy, to train with the world-class coaching staff at the rink. For the last 25 years, a group of 20-30+ skaters came from Brazil every year and would spend their entire summer break in Redwood City training. During my time there since 1978, I have trained with and trained skaters from countries such as Brazil, Cuba, Australia, Dominican Republic, China, Italy, and more. Their only reason for coming to Redwood City or the United States was to train at the Redwood Roller Rink. In closing, I would ask that you all look beyond the letter of the law and consider the history of this institution when considering a Roller Rink's inclusion in the new development plans for the city. As a former coach and the rink's operator during Jim and Suzi Pollard's absence, I have been in contact with coaches, club members, and community members that all say that it was a good and one to the last family -friendly establishments in the City/Bay Area. They say they would all support the re -opening of a Roller Rink.