Comments on: "You Lose it at Safe …"

By: Philip

Philip — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:39:16 +0000

I’m all for doing away with one way streets downtown and even slowing down the speed limit to make walking safer but I would hope that we could make the downtown area more walkable without sacrificing it being drivable.

I would be against the idea that the way to compel people to walk more is to make driving inconvenient.

By: Steve Lackmeyer

Steve Lackmeyer — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 17:12:56 +0000

Dennis, over the years I’ve seen a lot of what can be called “confuse and delay.” Not saying it’s going to happen here. I’m not saying it should or should not happen here. I’m not saying Speck’s plan should or should not be implemented.
But if you want to see it happen, ask to directly speak to your council member. Ask if they are going to follow Speck’s recommendation to implement on a new mandate on city staff. If they say it needs to be studied, ask for how long and what the deadline will be for a vote on the matter.
For the record, by my estimate (I’m going on memory here) the city council still has a proposed renaming of Military Avenue to Saigon Avenue in the Asian District on “indefinite delay.” That delay was set about a decade ago.

By: Steve Reynolds

Steve Reynolds — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:53:59 +0000

The changes to improve walkability also will improve driveability, especially for those who go downtown infrequently. I caught myself going the wrong way on Hudson. I pulled out from the courthouse area, noticed signs for the Memorial, Civic Ctr, etc. facing me, so I went northbound. I then realized these were for pedestrians. Good thing it was a slow time of day.

By: Dennis

Dennis — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:34:48 +0000

I think that many of Jeff Speck’s recommendations are good, and need to be seriously considered by our City.

Several days ago I sent e-mails to the Ward 6 & 7 Councilmen (copied to the Mayor) asking how an interested citizen could be more effective at influencing the Counsil’s viewpoint regarding positive action on the Speck recommendations. I received one staffer’s reply, and a note from the Mayor expressing thanks for my interest… but no answers to my question.

So I’ll ask the question here: What things can an interested citizen DO to influence the City Council’s position on the Speck recommendations?