Art Miller, who said he owns 324 East King Street and 323 East High Street and volunteers on the new business improvement district board, urged borough council to deny the YWCA's application for a multi‑day closure of the 300 block of East King Street to permit a street mural and related activities.

"This street closure and mural painting should never have happened in the first place," Miller told council during public comment, saying the 2021 application had only 10 signatures and that he collected roughly 25% of affected property owners who now oppose further closures. Miller said vehicle access to his private lot and to adjacent businesses and residents depends on the King Street block and that closures in prior years extended beyond permit hours and blocked access despite permit conditions allowing local access.

Miller also argued the painting "is a political message" (he referenced the Black Lives Matter wording on the pavement) and cited municipal code provisions in his remarks, saying signs and structures in the public right of way and "obscene or pornographic" materials are regulated; he asked the council to stop the street closure and to let the existing pavement fade or be removed rather than permit recurring closures. Miller raised traffic‑safety concerns and potential liability from a mural in the traffic lane.

Council had earlier listed the YWCA street closure application on the agenda: staff noted the request would close the eastern half of the 300 block of King Street between North Charlotte and Evans on Oct. 20 and Oct. 25, with barricades and limited access arrangements planned for parking lots and local businesses. The Oct. 8 meeting record shows the street‑closure requests were presented for council consideration; no final action was recorded that evening.

Council members who spoke after public comment emphasized the value of open forum testimony. The YWCA was listed as the applicant for the closure; no YWCA representative spoke during public comment at the Oct. 8 meeting. Council did not vote on the closure request on Oct. 8 and the item remained listed for council consideration at the next regular meeting.