Notice of Demands
To: Mayor John Ewing Jr
1819 Farnam Street, Suite 300, Omaha, NE 68183
402-444-55553
OFFICIAL NOTICE OF DEMANDS
RE: Emergency Mitigation and Safety Requirements for the Omaha Streetcar Project
Dear Mayor Ewing,
I am writing to you on behalf of the Streetcar Impact Alliance, a coalition representing over 65 local businesses and a growing body of residents along the streetcar corridor. At our community meeting on February 23, which was attended by more than 100 concerned citizens, a vote was passed to submit the following formal demands to your office.
The data gathered from our members is staggering. Of the businesses surveyed, only 3% reported any sales growth from 2024 to 2025, while 91% reported a significant decline in revenue. Foot traffic has plummeted to an average rating of 3.5 out of 10. This project is not merely an inconvenience, it is an existential threat to the businesses that define the heart of our city. To ensure the survival of our corridor, the Streetcar Impact Alliance submits the following demands:
I. Financial Restitution & Tax Relief
● Direct Cash Grants: Immediate establishment of a mitigation fund to provide cash grants to impacted businesses. These grants should be scaled to bridge the gap of documented lost sales directly resulting from construction disruption.
● Tax Holiday: An immediate pause on the collection of the Blackstone Tax and the Restaurant Tax for businesses within the impact zone.
● Property Tax Freeze: A freeze on property tax assessments for residents and business owners along the corridor to prevent displacement due to speculative value increases while current utility is diminished.
● Sales Tax Holiday: A designated sales tax holiday for the corridor to incentivise local shopping.
II. Logistics & Parking Solutions
● Dedicated Resident & Employee Parking: A "License Plate Exemption" program allowing residents and employees to log their vehicles to exempt them from ParkOmaha meters, spots, and garages within a 4-block radius of the construction.
● Patron Parking: Clearly marked, city-subsidized parking specifically for customers, with high-visibility signage directing traffic to available lots.
III. Non-Negotiable Safety & Communication Standards
● Public Safety Intervention: The current state of construction is hazardous. Open pits, unannounced street closures, and the absence of safe pedestrian detours have already resulted in pedestrian strikes. We demand immediate installation of ADA-compliant walkways and active flaggers at all major intersections.
● GPS & Data Coordination: The City must coordinate daily with Google Maps and Waze to ensure real-time data reflects closures, preventing dangerous U-turns and vehicles driving into oncoming lanes.
● Transparent Communication: A weekly, granular update on the timeline that goes beyond generalities and provides specific block-by-block progress reports.
IV. Next Steps & Deadline
The Streetcar Impact Alliance is committed to the success of Omaha, but not at the cost of our livelihoods and physical safety. We request a formal response to these demands by Friday, March 6, 2025. Should we fail to receive a meaningful commitment to these points, our coalition is prepared to escalate this matter to the City Council and engage in a sustained public awareness campaign regarding the mismanagement of this project. We look forward to your prompt response.
Clark Ross
Chairperson
February 24, 2026
