Comments on: TC Commission Lodged between opposing priorities

By: Sally Trombly

Sally Trombly — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:02:13 +0000

“If you can’t beat ‘em join ‘em.”
This is the perfect opportunity for everyone to start campaigning for the next open city commission seat, parks and recreation commission seat, etc. From the time we all turned 18, we were all eligible for city office positions. I respect my elders for their experience and wisdom, but it appears to me that a “youthful” perspective is severely lacking; up there in the big, black leather chairs of command. Now is the time. Set your sights and join them.

By: Will

Will — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 05:32:12 +0000

I just want to do something to create change..what can I do to make change?

By: Emily Bert

Emily Bert — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:40:50 +0000

I’m all for “get your elected official out of the car day”. Can we extend that to a week? This really boils down to awareness and education. Most folks really just have no clue what it’s like to commute by bike or foot regularly in this town.And what people have no experiences with, they tend to be blind to. I am tired of being treated as if I were invisible. What ever happened to public service announcements asking people to watch for cyclists and pedestrians? Does anyone else remember those from childhood? Not that many people watch TV anymore.
I think part of the solution is to increase our presence on 8th street and other busy streets in town as much as we can. Although, I do hesitate to suggest that, since I don’t believe it is safe the way it is. What do others think?

By: Breanne

Breanne — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:10:12 +0000

I’m with Bill… Let’s get them all to ride down 8th street on bikes then see how worried they are about a left turn lane… I think we need to present a clear list of what we want accomplished if the city is to move forward with the project. I would like to think that need our approval at this point not the other way around.

By: Breanne

Breanne — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:07:29 +0000

How about shirts that say “Who’s the Boss?”

By: Laura

Laura — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:55:46 +0000

Gary I am thankful that you have dedicated so much of your time to do this project. I look forward to reading your articles. This website is exactly what Traverse City needed. My question is this, how much longer can you afford to do this work without pay? Do we need to plan a fund raiser to help support this ongoing effort? Are people rising to the occasion and clicking on that Donate Here button? What can we do to help you help us?

By: Bill Palladino

Bill Palladino — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:07:08 +0000

Pressure yes. Support yes. . I love the adopt a commissioner approach and I’d like to add another element to that. I’m for dropping the cynicism and settling on action ourselves. And let’s make it clear, it is our responsibility as a constituency.

I will take on organizing a “get your elected official out of the car day” during Smart Commute week. I see this as an opportunity to put our elected officials in the position to see the deficits their lax attention to their own policies are creating. A simple ride east on State Street between Pine and Boardman will demonstrate the poor condition of the roadway for cars, bikes, pedestrians, and disabled folk. These visceral experiences will go a lot further to educate and motivate them to action.

Thank you all for your thoughts and your work.

Bill

By: M'Lynn

M'Lynn — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:59:03 +0000

MDOT/Lodge eMail: http://shrvl.com/5J02Q

If we must retrofit, we must engineer the fix into the project before the ground is broken. We must have the budget and funding for the retrofit in place. We must have a retrofit completion date in writing where 8th Street to be a Complete Street.

We need to do it right the first time this time.

By: Sally Trombly

Sally Trombly — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:30:33 +0000

Typical example of back door politics. How many other decisions have be made this way over the years? …In every city in our “democratic” nation.

By: Will

Will — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:08:11 +0000

I think we just have to send daily emails to our commission to keep the pressure on to keep them doing what they are hired to do