Every so often, a simple idea comes along that captures a community’s imagination. Recently, a new Instagram group called santaclaracanhaveittoo has been doing just that.

I don’t know the people behind the effort, and I don’t know what their long-term plans may be. What I do know is that they have produced two thoughtful videos that ask an important question: Why can’t Santa Clara have the kind of vibrant downtown that so many other cities enjoy?

Their approach is refreshingly straightforward. Rather than lecturing residents or presenting complex planning documents, they take viewers to successful downtowns and interview the people who live, work, shop, and gather there. The message that emerges is powerful: great downtowns are not accidents. They are the result of vision, persistence, and a community willing to invest in itself.

For decades, Santa Clara has been known around the world for innovation. We are home to major technology companies, a renowned university, a professional football team, and a growing list of achievements. Yet when visitors ask where our downtown is, many residents struggle to answer.

That is not a criticism. It is an opportunity.

The videos produced by santaclaracanhaveittoo remind us that downtowns are more than buildings. They are places where neighbors meet for coffee, families attend community events, small businesses flourish, and a city’s identity comes alive. They become the living room of a community.

What struck me most was not the architecture or the storefronts shown in the videos. It was the people. The pride they felt in their downtowns. The sense of belonging. The understanding that these places did not appear overnight but were built through years of commitment and community support.

Santa Clara already possesses many of the ingredients necessary for success: a central location, historic assets, strong neighborhoods, economic vitality, and residents who care deeply about the future of their city. What we sometimes lack is the confidence to believe that we deserve the same kind of downtown experience that other communities enjoy.

We do.

Whether you support one development plan or another is beside the point. The larger conversation is about what kind of city we want to leave to future generations. Do we want a place where people come only to work and leave? Or do we want a place where people gather, celebrate, dine, shop, stroll, and build lasting memories?

The answer should be obvious.

I encourage residents to watch the videos from santaclaracanhaveittoo and think about the possibilities. You may not agree with every opinion expressed, but that is not the purpose. The purpose is to start a conversation about what Santa Clara can become.

The name of the group says it all: santaclaracanhaveittoo.

The real question is whether we believe it.

Mary Grizzle
Co-Chair, Reclaiming Our Downtown
Santa Clara, California