Vancouver resident Sara Schmit addresses the Save Vancouver Streets petition
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and do not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com
Adopting the Save Vancouver Streets petition would ruin the city of Vancouver’s ability to make improvements, and cost taxpayers more money with less results. Having to vote on every single vehicle lane removal would cripple the city’s ability to get state and federal funding and other grants for road improvements.
Rather than being able to design the safest road for all users, our city’s planners would be forced to contend with the misinformation groups like Save Vancouver Streets present to the public. Making the safety of our roads political cannot be allowed to happen.
This isn’t about transgender books being in the classroom. This is a question of am I going to get killed or injured traveling through the streets of Vancouver because someone has a misinformed opinion? The city does not remove car lanes at random; there are car travel levels of service requirements established at a state and federal level that have to be met before lane removal is even considered.
The people that oppose them may not really understand the data, or are up to speed on the latest safety requirements and designs. That’s okay. It is not their job to design and maintain the safety of our streets. It is the job of planners and engineers we are already paying to do this.
This false assertion the city did not give ample time and opportunities for feedback is exactly that; a false assertion. Those of us who were at those meetings know it. It can be hard to accept, and believe me I’ve been there, but a fact of life remains that just because it didn’t go your way doesn’t mean you didn’t get a say. We can’t let the inability of some members of our community to understand that lesson put all of our lives at risk.
Sara Schmit
Vancouver
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Oh, wow…. you are so wrong on so many points that I’m not even going to attempt to explain it. There is, literally, nothing in your writing with which I agree other than your saying that just because you lose doesn’t mean you didn’t get a say.
This initiative isn’t about not getting a say; it’s all about the City making life miserable for the majority of us. Due to the City’s blindness and arrogance, the “people” are going to smack their hands and tell them “if you can’t play right, then you’ll need to ask our permission before you play, each and every time.”
Do you truly, honestly, down deep… really believe that the City planners have your best interests in mind? If so, THEN YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM. Your blind, unquestioning allegiance to the City street-planners is truly frightening!
Yes I trust engineers and professional planners to do their research, determine the most accurate data, confirm to state and federal codes and regulations, and to perform their jobs adequately.
It’s literally what we pay them to do.
My wife and I have lived just off of McGillivray for 27 years, but we are just too stupid to understand what our betters on City Clowncil want to do to our Neighborhood?? I’ll bet a burger you don’t live anywhere near McGillivray.
What incredible dismissive arrogance! You could go to work dishing propaganda for City Staff!
I have reviewed the meeting agenda for Monday night. The City declared this entire effort “illegal” back in April of last year. I am convinced that the City will not take any action Monday night, exactly as City Staff is urging them to do, which will allow the Mayor to gavel the “hearing” closed without hearing from anyone who signs up to comment. Why would Clowncil hear testimony in favor of anything that has already been declared “illegal?
Four City Clowncil critters, including Madam Mayor, are up for reelection this year. I cannot imagine a better issue for a new candidate to use to defeat every one of these people who are inflicting this on the very people they purport to represent.
Typing city clowncil is certainly something a stupid person would do.