In light of the current social and political environment, I want to draw attention to Martin Luther King, Jr. day and the very real and ongoing importance of what he stood for. I grew up poor and had to join the military in order to pay my way through school, eventually graduating from a mediocre university. The FBI killed Dr. King in 1968 because he had the audacity to speak out against the Vietnam War, to challenge the status quo with respect to race relations, and to openly criticize capitalism. Before he was killed, Dr. King was an advocate of non-violent resistance, which earned him beatings from the police. Looking around and seeing how much more we have to do to accomplish the goal of equality that Dr. King was striving for, one of the quotes that sticks with me the most is his criticism of white liberals and moderates that prefer a negative peace -- the presence of order -- to a positive peace, or the presence of justice. The ongoing protests, the economic conditions of our city and our region, and the reaction to them illustrate that Dr. King was right in the 1960's and he's still right today. Fighting for equality is more than putting a 'Black Lives Matter' or 'Love is Love' or 'Hate has no home here' sign in your front yard. It requires each and every one of us to get off our asses and do something. For some, that means protesting, boycotting, striking, and building support structures for the vulnerable people in your community. For those in city government, it means working to change the material conditions -- through policy and ordinances, zoning code, and the built environment -- that disproportionately harm black and brown people and poor people. This comment isn't just about bike and pedestrian infrastructure. However, changes to our built environment, housing and zoning code, economic policies, and our police force will have a significant impact on both equality for our diverse population and safety for those that travel without a car.
I am submitting this written public comment regarding Opposing the proposed Bunts Road multi-use path.
I remain very concerned by the lack of clear, enforceable commitments associated with this project. While the City has stated that maintenance, repairs, and plowing are being “committed to,” no specific standards, ordinances, timelines, or accountability measures have been identified.
The potential impacts, damage to my driveway, recurring potholes, drainage issues, safety concerns, long-term maintenance failures, and decline in property value are foreseeable and preventable.
General assurances to address issues after construction are not sufficient.
Once built, the burden of unresolved problems will fall on nearby residents and taxpayers. I am seeking a proactive approach rather than a reactive one.
For clarity in the public record, the priorities remain:
* Enforceable safety laws and ordinances
* Thoughtful, attractive path design
* Protection of driveway and path integrity, including use of concrete rather than asphalt
* Planting of appropriate large trees
* Clearly defined maintenance standards
I respectfully urge City Council to require clear, enforceable commitments before proceeding and to ensure that this project protects the neighborhood’s residential character, appearance, and the long-term care and wellbeing of both the community and the city.
In light of the current social and political environment, I want to draw attention to Martin Luther King, Jr. day and the very real and ongoing importance of what he stood for. I grew up poor and had to join the military in order to pay my way through school, eventually graduating from a mediocre university. The FBI killed Dr. King in 1968 because he had the audacity to speak out against the Vietnam War, to challenge the status quo with respect to race relations, and to openly criticize capitalism. Before he was killed, Dr. King was an advocate of non-violent resistance, which earned him beatings from the police. Looking around and seeing how much more we have to do to accomplish the goal of equality that Dr. King was striving for, one of the quotes that sticks with me the most is his criticism of white liberals and moderates that prefer a negative peace -- the presence of order -- to a positive peace, or the presence of justice. The ongoing protests, the economic conditions of our city and our region, and the reaction to them illustrate that Dr. King was right in the 1960's and he's still right today. Fighting for equality is more than putting a 'Black Lives Matter' or 'Love is Love' or 'Hate has no home here' sign in your front yard. It requires each and every one of us to get off our asses and do something. For some, that means protesting, boycotting, striking, and building support structures for the vulnerable people in your community. For those in city government, it means working to change the material conditions -- through policy and ordinances, zoning code, and the built environment -- that disproportionately harm black and brown people and poor people. This comment isn't just about bike and pedestrian infrastructure. However, changes to our built environment, housing and zoning code, economic policies, and our police force will have a significant impact on both equality for our diverse population and safety for those that travel without a car.
I am submitting this written public comment regarding Opposing the proposed Bunts Road multi-use path.
I remain very concerned by the lack of clear, enforceable commitments associated with this project. While the City has stated that maintenance, repairs, and plowing are being “committed to,” no specific standards, ordinances, timelines, or accountability measures have been identified.
The potential impacts, damage to my driveway, recurring potholes, drainage issues, safety concerns, long-term maintenance failures, and decline in property value are foreseeable and preventable.
General assurances to address issues after construction are not sufficient.
Once built, the burden of unresolved problems will fall on nearby residents and taxpayers. I am seeking a proactive approach rather than a reactive one.
For clarity in the public record, the priorities remain:
* Enforceable safety laws and ordinances
* Thoughtful, attractive path design
* Protection of driveway and path integrity, including use of concrete rather than asphalt
* Planting of appropriate large trees
* Clearly defined maintenance standards
I respectfully urge City Council to require clear, enforceable commitments before proceeding and to ensure that this project protects the neighborhood’s residential character, appearance, and the long-term care and wellbeing of both the community and the city.