MyWHaT

(NOTE: I prefer to respond to each comment on a post or at least as a group, but yesterday was a busy day and there were a lot of comments. Thank you for chiming in…this is my reply…)

The afterglow of Monday night’s revival at the governmental center is still hanging around. Yesterday’s traffic on this BLOG was an all-time high and the 19 comments are reflective of the need to sustain this energy. It was a last second call to go ahead with the Support and Adopt a commissioner proposal, but response was positive–whew!

One example of the need for traffic calming in this section of 8th street. If a mid-block crossing makes the most sense for a pedestrian, that is what they are going to do. Instead of fighting it, a complete street approach takes this into account and designs the street to accommodate it safely.

It is true that citizens too often treat city officials/staff as “others” and at worst “targets”. That need-not-be the case. They are our neighbors and one key to building a cohesive, healthy community, in addition to livable streets and spaces, is to get to know your neighbor. To support them. As Bill raised, “it is our responsibility as a constituency.” (And Bill, let me/us know how we can help you with “Get your elected official out of the car day“)

A key comment yesterday was from Brad: “How can we show everyone what eighth street could be, and by extension, TC?“

The TART Trails conceptual was a nice start, but what Brad might really be hitting on is how do we reach their minds AND their hearts? The 33 comments during public comment were stirring in their poignancy and diversity. They moved the mayor. I can’t wait to dig back through the hour and half of footage (yes, Laura, I do have day job that demands attention and limits my time–working on that).

In addition to comments, I’ve also been getting to emails packed with support and ideas.

A reader shared an email me with yesterday that she sent to one of the commissioners. It was, in my perspective, a refreshing approach. Spot on.

“I am more than happy to work with you to find any information you need to answer questions, write letters, provide support, etc- basically anything you need! I would love to meet with you over coffee, or take a walk or bike ride along 8th Street.” Simple, sweet and inviting.

Her letter included relevant experiences and training. I’m interested in the response she receives. I’m interested the responses all of you receive.

Have you adopted a commissioner yet?

Despite the frustrations over funding and MDOT bureaucracy, it is a clear message that we are sending. We are engaged. We have ideas. And this energy reaches beyond a “vocal minority“, as goes a common thread of negative reactions to Mayor Chris Bzdok’s request to have 8th Street revisited and Monday night’s impressive showing of over 150 people.

Tuesday night the commission will choose their direction. Before then, and at that meeting, we need to be as supportive as we can in letting them know we support making 8th Street a priority despite the risk of other costs. They are scared of losing $400-Gs in stimulus/state money because that has been the program for decades and they typically only hear from the budget-fear mongers. As Will commented, ’400 G is a lot of money now but look at the long term gain.” And, some of us may argue that it’s not even that much money (we must understand that is a non-starter for commissioners–for now).
Keep the discussion going and recruit some new faces for next Tuesday.

And oh! Who is in charge of making those “My City has a Master Plan” T-shirts? Or, at least a banner.

I’m still fishing for your thoughts…keep them coming.

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(NOTE: Part of the goal with MyWHaT is to 1) have lots of comments (thank you) and, 2) occasionally have guest writers. Today, in a little break from recent hoopla, I introduce to you, Chester. Chester is the cantankerous but intelligent hippie alter ego of a local who wears a suit to work, looks as straight edged as possible, and has to work with many of the people he’d like to “roast”. MyWHaT is happy to give a venue)

Hagerty Insurance: It’s about the cars, stupid

The Hagerty swagger was in full force late last month at the Traverse City Chamber dinner at the Grand Traverse Resort. McKeel Hagerty, the company’s President was touted as the key-note speaker, with the promise of teaching small businesses owners how to go forward with the challenges of the new economy.

Living in the past, Connery and the Aston Martin DB5.

His solution was a long drawn out presentation that resembled more of a self-promoting pep rally than a well intentioned key-note speech. Hagerty twice mentioned what he thought was our country’s zenith, the glory days of post WW II, when the car was king, and interstate highways created alleged suburban bliss (along with the metropolitan sprawl attitude we still find ourselves dealing with, even here in Traverse City).

Maybe it was most disappointing that the Hagerty company visibly does little to support alternative transportation (sorry, parking garages for your own employees don’t count) and is beholden to maintain the car guy culture that still lusts over 1960’s muscle cars like a gangly adolescent.

A scary thought for a company that to its credit employs 400 people and plans to hire several hundred more in the next decade.

The multi-media presentation featured Hagerty’s maligned version of history, which of course emphasized America’s love affair with the automobile. If you love cars, think that you are James Bond, or just wanted to wax poetic over the golden age of the internal combustion engine, then this big show was for you.

The night’s message offered little advice for those of us struggling with our own businesses for moving into the future, and even less for those that would like more alternatives for commuting and saving on fuel and transportation costs.

Hagerty probably doesn’t get that part, because in many ways the Hagerty swagger and all, is still living in the past.

—By Chester

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Or, maybe Chester, the Hagerty president is trying to compete with the man-himself, Bono. Just last month he called for a Return of the Automobile as a Sexual Object. For a related critique of that superstars love affair with the car, you might enjoy Jeremy Holmes’ Enough With the Fetishization, it’s Just a Car article at Ride Solutions.

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