tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61418695766319676812024-03-13T11:55:19.594-07:00Safe Streets NorthridgeA blog dedicated to improving the safety of Northridge streets to preserve the neighborhood feel of the community.Safe Streets Northridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08101253359844352877noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141869576631967681.post-1641082479877263122011-11-11T11:11:00.001-08:002011-11-11T11:17:24.775-08:00Northridge Community Bike Ride November 13thOn Sunday November 13th Sal Palaez of Northridge South Neighborhood Council will be leading a fun and family friendly bicycle ride to Get Shaved Ice Cream shop on Reseda and Prairie. The ride will gather at 3pm and leave at 3:15. Come out and enjoy a Sunday afternoon!<br />
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If it's been a while since you've ridden your bike please make sure it is working condition. Tires inflated, brakes tested and so forth. If you are not sure, you can always take it to Bicycle Johns on Reseda just south of Rayen and have it checked out. I recommend you wear a helmet as well.
Here is a map of the route!<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&vpsrc=6&ctz=480&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=214857822882066845320.0004b0c58781067764807&t=m&ll=34.237067,-118.540678&spn=0.024835,0.036478&z=14&output=embed" width="425"></iframe><br />
<small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&vpsrc=6&ctz=480&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=214857822882066845320.0004b0c58781067764807&t=m&ll=34.237067,-118.540678&spn=0.024835,0.036478&z=14&source=embed" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">Northridge Community Bike Ride</a> in a larger map</small>Safe Streets Northridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08101253359844352877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141869576631967681.post-11390343494831260232011-09-07T11:07:00.000-07:002011-09-07T12:51:33.369-07:00Planning Land Use and Zoning Committee 8/25/11 Meeting Report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northridge Planning Land Use and Zoning Committee</td></tr>
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On Thursday August 25th I had the privilege of chairing my first Planning Land Use and Zoning Committee meeting. We had a great turn out and a lively conversation about several agenda items in the neighborhood as well as public comments about non agenda items. As a result, the committee has crafted 3 agenda items to be placed on the September 13th agenda for the Northridge West Neighborhood Council board meeting. I hope you come out to provide input and I'm looking forward to serving the neighborhood to the best of my ability moving forward by hosting the Planning Land Use and Zoning committee meetings at least once every two months.</div>
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<b>Planning, Land Use, and Zoning Committee Meeting Minutes:</b><br />
Meeting Minutes, Thursday, 25 August 2011 </div>
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Location: The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Restaurant (Patio)<br />
18705 Devonshire Street Northridge CA, 91324 7:00 pm to 8:45 pm<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Members Present:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Theresa Bidner</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Mary Finley</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Paul Kirk</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Marcy Orkin</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Mike Orkin</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Bryan Reff</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Don Ward (chair)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Glen Wilson</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">1. Non Agenda Public Comment</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Fraternity
House complaints and issues on Lassen Street across from Nobel Middle
School. There may be possible violations of their conditional use
permit. There are parking issues on small street south and parallel to
Lassen due to teacher parking overflow and student pickup drop-off. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">2. The Oakridge Estate PAB (Park Advisory Board) - Discussion / Public Comment</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">There
were concerns of a lack of transparency by the PAB toward community
constituents.. Plans and renderings presented at the last PAB meeting
were not posted publicly or to the internet. Plan and rendering
presented on poster boards were shown at the PAB meeting but not
elsewhere. Post-it note public comments collected at the meeting should
be posted to Internet. NWNC Planning and Land Use Committee members are
concerned that some PAB committee meetings have NOT been open to the
public. Meeting times and place not convenient. Seeking meeting place
for January board meeting to occur in Northridge rather than Granada
Hills and in the evening rather than during the day. Possible meeting
place suggestions: Wilkinson Center, Chase Bank and Devonshire House.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Resolution:
Craft resolution urging Oakridge Estate PAB to increase transparency to
community, reexamine PAB meeting times and locations, and post proposed
plans, renderings, and public comments at local libraries and on the
internet.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">3. Northridge Vision – Discussion / Public Comment</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Very little information to be found. Awaiting presentation of plan Oct 11th NWNC meeting.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The
committee is concerned about additional car traffic to the area. The
committee encourages robust public transit, walking and cycling
facilities. Like idea of college town feel.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Resolution: Craft resoultion urging walking, cycling, transit facilities be part of the plan. Encourage college town feel.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">4. Rydell Chevrolet Additional Repair Stall - Discussion / Public Comment</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">New
repair stall faces south towards homes on Lemarsh Street. There is a
potential for noise. If neighbors are disturbed by noise consider
erecting a berm / sound wall. No motion was proposed. Rydell
organization noted to be friendly people. The addition may provide more
jobs in the area. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">5. Walgreen CUP - Discussion / Public Comment</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The
committee has concerns about selling small-sized bottles of spirits and
wine, and individual cans or bottles of beer. This may encourage
alcohol abuse in the immediate vicinity of the Shopping Center and
beyond resulting in a negative impact to our community.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Resolution:
Craft resolution urging Walgreens not to sell beer in individual cans or
bottles, spirits in miniatures or half-pints, and wine by splits,
snipes, or ponies.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>3 RESOLUTIONS for 9/13/11 NWNC Agenda</b></span></span></div>
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<span id="internal-source-marker_0.9140632866924698" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">TITLE: Oakridge Estate PAB Transparency and Convenience Resolution</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">AUTHOR: Don Ward, Chair Planning Land Use and Zoning Committee</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">REFERRED TO: Northridge West Neighborhood Council by Planning Land Use and Zoning Committee</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">WHEREAS The Oakridge Estate Park Advisory Board was set up with the intention of community involvement; and</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">WHEREAS
constituents in the immediate surrounding neighborhood have expressed
concerns that the Oakridge Estate Park Advisory Board meetings are
difficult to attend due to current meeting time and place; and</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">WHEREAS
constituents have expressed concerns of a lack of publicly available
up-to-date information, sketches, renderings, plans, and meeting minutes
posted to the Internet as well as posted to physical locations; be it</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">RESOLVED
that the Northridge West Neighborhood Council urges the Oakridge Estate
Park Advisory Board to consider evening meeting times within the
immediate neighborhood; and be it further</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">RESOLVED
that the Northridge West Neighborhood Council urges the Oakridge Estate
Park Advisory Board to make available all information, current plans,
renderings, and meeting minutes to be posted publicly on the Internet
and public locations in the immediate surrounding neighborhood of the
Oakridge Estates proposed park location</span><br />
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<b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">TITLE: Northridge Vision Transparency and Convenience Resolution</span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">AUTHOR: Don Ward, Chair Planning Land Use and Zoning Committee</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">REFERRED TO: Northridge West Neighborhood Council by Planning Land Use and Zoning Committee</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">WHEREAS
The Northridge Vision plan will have a profound affect on the
neighborhoods and surrounding areas of CSUN (California State University
Northridge); and</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">WHEREAS
constituents in the surrounding neighborhood have expressed concerns
that the Northridge Vision project is lacking in transparency and
available information; and</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">WHEREAS constituents have expressed fears of additional car traffic due to lack of alternative transportation options; be it</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">RESOLVED
that the Northridge West Neighborhood Council urges Northridge Vision
to consider evening meeting times within the immediate neighborhood of
CSUN; and be it further</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">RESOLVED
that the Northridge West Neighborhood Council urges Northridge Vision
to make all information, current plans, renderings, and meeting minutes
publicly available by posting on the Internet and in public locations in
the surrounding neighborhood of affected areas and surrounding
communities; and be it further</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">RESOLVED
that the Northridge West Neighborhood Council urges Northridge Vision
to include planning for robust alternative and public transportation
facilities at CSUN and affected areas including additional cycling and
pedestrian friendly facilities; and be it further</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">RESOLVED
that the Northridge West Neighborhood Council urges Northridge Vision
to facilitate, and encourage Northridge towards a small college town
character.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">TITLE: Walgreens Conditional Use Permit Resolution</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">AUTHOR: Don Ward, Chair Planning Land Use and Zoning Committee</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">REFERRED TO: Northridge West Neighborhood Council by Planning Land Use and Zoning Committee</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">WHEREAS
Walgreens located at 18515 Devonshire Northridge, CA 91324 seeks a
conditional use permit to sell carry off beverages of beer and wine; and</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">WHEREAS
constituents in the immediate surrounding neighborhood have expressed
concerns about the selling of small-sized bottles of wine, and
individual cans or bottles of beer which may encourage alcohol abuse in
the immediate vicinity of the Shopping Center and beyond resulting in a
negative impact to the surrounding community; be it </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">RESOLVED
that the Northridge West Neighborhood Council urges the CUP
commissioner to consider prohibiting Walgreens from engaging in the
sale of beer by individual cans or bottles and wine by the pint or half
pint, splits, snipes or ponies.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
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Safe Streets Northridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08101253359844352877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141869576631967681.post-33410642505547037852011-08-13T15:49:00.000-07:002011-08-14T15:06:06.161-07:00Alleged Hit and Run Killer captured. Father arrested as co-conspirator.<object height="390" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2UUlPWmZcs8?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2UUlPWmZcs8?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="390" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Es4rUFuL8m8/Tkb38H2e4zI/AAAAAAAAAD8/telFcQ86ywU/s1600/50580297f99b5ef17f28e4bbb641e85a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Es4rUFuL8m8/Tkb38H2e4zI/AAAAAAAAAD8/telFcQ86ywU/s320/50580297f99b5ef17f28e4bbb641e85a.jpg" width="233" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alleged Killer: Dominique Marie Rush</td></tr>
</tbody></table>On Tuesday, LAPD Valley Traffic Division Detectives announced that Dominique Marie Rush 23, and her father Steven Rush 44, were arrested in connection with the <a href="http://safestreetsnorthridge.blogspot.com/2011/04/hit-and-run-killer-at-large-in-west.html">April 20th hit and run killing of Alex German Romero 17</a>, a Chatsworth high school student who was run down while riding his bicycle.<br />
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LAPD credits email tipsters and online media with providing the information needed to complete their investigation. Dominique Rush, a resident of a gated community in Porter Ranch, was observed taking refuge at her grandmother's residence in Oxnard where she was ultimately arrested. Steven Rush is alleged to have aided in the conspiracy to conceal the crime. Police have reported that the vehicle was immediately driven from the scene of the crime to the Palmdale area where the father maintains a residence and then driven to a business address in San Pedro before it disappeared for a period of time and has since been recovered.<br />
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<b>Media frames crime as "helpful." </b><br />
What was particularly disturbing, was that during the press conference announcement that the killer and conspirator were caught, the media framed their questions as a father "helping" his child by concealing her crime (see video.) While I can sympathize with a father wanting to help his daughter, what kind of world do we live in where "help" is defined as avoiding responsibility for one's actions?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-togiq5Bup4c/Tkb3-u7S2HI/AAAAAAAAAEA/TlWo3Kj7uJI/s1600/d68ae2aa89cf02ce625d3bdb02229662.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-togiq5Bup4c/Tkb3-u7S2HI/AAAAAAAAAEA/TlWo3Kj7uJI/s320/d68ae2aa89cf02ce625d3bdb02229662.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alleged Co-Conspirator: Steven Rush</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Quoting Sgt. Krumer, LAPD from the LA Times blog on the proper way to "help" one's child: "You hold their hand as they walk into the Police Station...claim there was a terrible lack of judgement at the time...and take responsibility for what occurred. If they had done that than all she would be looking at is a civil lawsuit and a slap on the wrist."<br />
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Indeed, a slap on the wrist is sadly the truth of the matter. People who kill others by vehicle, are surprisingly rarely even cited. A quick Google search for "<a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=Los+Angeles+killed+in+crosswalk&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a">Los Angeles killed in crosswalk</a>" reveals hundreds of links rarely a case in which a person is charged with a traffic violation. Without significant repercussions, the killing will continue and people will remain hesitant to choose walking and cycling to their local destinations.<br />
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<b>Dangerous street design encourages wreck-less driving.</b><br />
<a href="http://la.streetsblog.org/2011/08/10/alex-romeros-accused-killers-behind-bars-but-dont-forget-dangerous-desoto/">Streetsblog LA points out that De Soto itself is partly culpable</a> as a 7 lane residential street. If we want to reduce traffic, we need to make the streets safer for people to choose alternate forms of transportation. If we want the population to trend away from obesity, we need to provide safe accommodations for people to use people powered transportation options.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0mplya1yW04/TkcCx7OW8lI/AAAAAAAAAEE/HUaaNRPpIgI/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-08-13+at+4.02.22+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="321" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0mplya1yW04/TkcCx7OW8lI/AAAAAAAAAEE/HUaaNRPpIgI/s640/Screen+shot+2011-08-13+at+4.02.22+PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">De Soto, a seven lane street, has residential character.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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Safe Streets Northridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08101253359844352877noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141869576631967681.post-52699184820848544252011-07-11T15:56:00.000-07:002011-07-11T19:48:20.628-07:00Northridge West Neighborhood Council endorses Life Before License CampaignGood news for pedestrians, motorists and cyclists who will one day become victims of hit and run crimes... A grass roots push has begun towards stiffening the consequences for committing a hit and run, one of the more common person on person crimes on our streets. In a unanimous vote Tuesday June 14th, the <a href="http://www.northridgewest.org/">Northridge West Neighborhood Council </a>voted to endorse the <b>Life Before License Campaign</b>. I introduced the motion to support this campaign because I have been frustrated by the lack of accountability that hit and run perpetrators have faced in the rare times that they are prosecuted and punished. Indeed, the punishment for hit and run crimes is typically far less than that of DUI and thus the reason that nearly 1/3 of traffic collisions are hit and run crimes.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-je6pmBkRdFw/ThuDsjTeAuI/AAAAAAAAAD4/1RLekkK696c/s1600/image4.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-je6pmBkRdFw/ThuDsjTeAuI/AAAAAAAAAD4/1RLekkK696c/s320/image4.png" width="319" /></a></div>Campaign author, Dr. Alex Thompson states: "<span class="c0"> In LA, 32% of ALL collisions are hit and run [2008 SWITRS data, California Highway Patrol.] In other words, Los Angelinos involved in a collision have a nearly 1 in 3 chance of being left to fend for themselves. Worse, in those cases where a hit and run perpetrator is caught and convicted, judges rarely take away the convicts driving privileges. Life Before License, a campaign started by the cycling advocacy organization Bikeside, will seek mandatory loss of driving privileges for convicted hit and run perpetrators."</span><br />
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<span class="c0">The language of the campaign seeks to suspend the license of a driver who commits a hit and run. Many would be surprised to know that the DMV does not suspend the driver's license of hit and run perpetrators. In other words, a person can leave a victim to die on the streets, and drive the days before and the days after the person is convicted of the crime. </span><br />
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<span class="c0"> </span><br />
LIFE BEFORE LICENSE CAMPAIGN:<br />
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<div class="c2"><span class="c0 c3">WHEREAS 32% of all collisions in Los Angeles are hit and run, AND</span></div><div class="c2"><span class="c0 c3">WHEREAS leaving the scene of a collision is a failure to take responsibility for one’s actions and the safety of others, and therefore demonstrates a tendency to drive unsafely, AND</span></div><div class="c2"><span class="c0 c3">WHEREAS currently there is not a mandated loss of driving privileges for those convicted of hit and run, AND</span></div><div class="c2"><span class="c0 c3">WHEREAS judges sentencing convicted hit and runners rarely take away the perpetrator’s driving privileges,</span></div><div class="c2"><span class="c0">Safe Streets Northridge hereby endorses the Life Before License campaign to change California law so that once convicted of a hit and run, perpetrators will automatically lose all driving privileges, and that the duration of the loss will correspond to the severity of the impact of the hit and run as follows:</span></div><ol class="c6" start="1"><li class="c1"><span class="c0">A hit and run which results in fatality will result in the loss of driving privileges for 10 years.</span></li>
<li class="c1"><span class="c0">A hit and run which results in permanent disability, or causes a life threatening injury will result in the loss of driving privileges for 5 years.</span></li>
<li class="c1"><span class="c0">A hit and run which results in injury, but which does not lead to permanent disability or a life threatening injury, will result in the loss of driving privileges for 2 years.</span></li>
<li class="c1"><span class="c0">A hit and run which results in the damage of property only will result in the loss of driving privileges for 1 year.</span></li>
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<div class="c2"><span class="c0"> </span></div>Safe Streets Northridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08101253359844352877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141869576631967681.post-89623924099681630192011-06-28T13:42:00.000-07:002011-06-29T17:42:31.881-07:00COMMUNITY ALERT: Killer's Vehicle Traced to Porter Ranch Address<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3jSRhVzYWeY/Tgo8R3fcjtI/AAAAAAAAADQ/yf9F73JdZZg/s1600/042811_GermanRomero244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3jSRhVzYWeY/Tgo8R3fcjtI/AAAAAAAAADQ/yf9F73JdZZg/s320/042811_GermanRomero244.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Romero's parents hold photo of promising Chatsworth high soccer star</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Important news was revealed at our last regularly scheduled Northridge West Neighborhood Council meeting by Glenn Bailey of the LABAC. During public comment Bailey revealed that police detectives working on the <a href="http://sanfernandosun.com/sanfernsun/news/6667-death-of-promising-soccer-star-impacts-family-community">Alex Romero hit and run fatality</a> had traced the owner of the car to a gated community located in Porter Ranch. LAPD has independently confirmed this fact.<br />
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According to Bailey, detectives have not released the name of the registered owner but have information that the owner has retained legal representation. Detectives allege that shortly after the collision that took the life of Alex Romero near the intersection of De Soto and Valerio, the driver of the vehicle fled to a location in Palmdale where relatives of the registered owner reside. Detectives allege that the car was then driven to a to a business address associated with the registered owner in San Pedro. Police are not able to determine where the car is currently located and have <a href="https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=1CBAmCcu1_sfDWr34W4M03D-qwK-cifk4HiM5OYCeSkBSRg4SAiFGLGRomUb5&hl=en_US&authkey=CNGK5bkK">distributed a community alert</a> to the public to be on the look out.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G2_gafVTQR4/Tgo7YHSAYtI/AAAAAAAAADM/IvsXI_yJbt8/s1600/7481989-3-5-5d5652b7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G2_gafVTQR4/Tgo7YHSAYtI/AAAAAAAAADM/IvsXI_yJbt8/s320/7481989-3-5-5d5652b7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2003 Silver/Gray Toyota Corolla</td></tr>
</tbody></table>SUSPECT WEAPON(S): VEHICLE<br />
SUSPECT VEHICLE: <br />
2003 TOYOTA COROLLA 4 DOOR<br />
LIGHT GRY OR SILVER<br />
<b style="color: red;">LIC PLATE: 5FCA061</b><br />
(REGISTERED TO ADDRESS<br />
IN PORTER RANCH)<br />
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MISSING RIGHT SIDE MIRROR &<br />
FRONT EMBLEM, DAMAGE TO RIGHT<br />
PORTION OF WINDSHIELD, AND<br />
POSSIBLE FRONT GRILL DAMAGE<br />
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Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call Valley Traffic Detective Krajchir, at (818) 644-8034. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting the word "TIPLA" and the message to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. Tipsters may also go to <a href="http://www.lacrimestoppers.org/">www.lacrimestoppers.org</a>, click on "Submit a Tip" and follow the prompts.<br />
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For additional information contact Valley Traffic Detectives at (818) 644-8000.Safe Streets Northridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08101253359844352877noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141869576631967681.post-29860174420571744282011-06-08T10:09:00.000-07:002011-07-18T16:38:39.254-07:00Installing a "Fix" at a Cost of 9000 Filled Potholes<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-raCZUGcqZHQ/TZ5RcNQxIVI/AAAAAAAAABo/uLSYxHUF_WA/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-04-07+at+5.03.11+PM.png" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-raCZUGcqZHQ/TZ5RcNQxIVI/AAAAAAAAABo/uLSYxHUF_WA/s320/Screen+shot+2011-04-07+at+5.03.11+PM.png" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mayall 45mph rated merge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The LA Times <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/bottleneck/2007/03/the_cost_of_pot.html">reported </a>that a pothole fix costs between $5 and $21. By that calculation, the city is spending up to 9000 "pothole fixes" worth of money ($45,000) to paint in a 45mph lane merge right up to a residential intersection where local residents signed petitions asking to have a crosswalk installed. Not only is the city spending scarce funds to do it, they are spending the money on a street that less than a year ago was freshly paved and striped with a much needed safe street configuration designed to discourage speeders and encourage multi-mode use. Commuters to the north, who were used to cutting through the neighborhood (typically at high speeds) raised an angry protest backed by Councilman Smith's office will ultimately get their "fix" at the cost of a safer pedestrian friendly neighborhood intersection to the south. The lines are currently chalked and paint is set to be laid some time soon... possibly this weekend.<br />
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A parent speaks out against the Mayall 45 mph rated merge:<br />
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<tr> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t6MwLKh02lU/Te-neCsLx9I/AAAAAAAAADA/A582rtsCHcA/s1600/wilburbikelanes_DSC8324.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t6MwLKh02lU/Te-neCsLx9I/AAAAAAAAADA/A582rtsCHcA/s320/wilburbikelanes_DSC8324.jpg" width="320" /></a></td> <td></td> </tr>
<tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bike lanes shoved to the gutter....</td> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td> </tr>
</tbody> </table></td> <td class="dsR2"><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CrCgj56ZwTM/TfAaqCKYfUI/AAAAAAAAADE/2EbRb_hVCZQ/s1600/wilburparkinglost_DSC8195.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="188" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CrCgj56ZwTM/TfAaqCKYfUI/AAAAAAAAADE/2EbRb_hVCZQ/s320/wilburparkinglost_DSC8195.jpg" width="320" /></a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This father of two loses some on street parking with the Mayall merge</td> </tr>
</tbody> </table></td> </tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>How did this happen?</b></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CbjrNndOERU/TY1EqoMjW8I/AAAAAAAAABc/NstLAtuSqrk/s1600/northridgecommunityplan001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CbjrNndOERU/TY1EqoMjW8I/AAAAAAAAABc/NstLAtuSqrk/s1600/northridgecommunityplan001.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CbjrNndOERU/TY1EqoMjW8I/AAAAAAAAABc/NstLAtuSqrk/s400/northridgecommunityplan001.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 1998 Northridge Community Plan with specific reference to Wilbur</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The process that led the LADOT to re-pave and re-stripe Wilbur Ave. a second time in only 10 months was driven by a rift between local and outside interests but could not have happened without the ultimate decision of Councilman Smith's office to move forward with a "compromise plan" that was rejected by the public for different reasons. The root of the issue is that Wilbur Ave. is contradiction in civic planning. The street, designed decades ago is wide and fast yet distinctly residential. There are many homes along the street with frontages and driveways with no access to alleys or outlets other than Wilbur Ave. itself. The street does not connect across the valley and is therefore under traveled during off peak hours which means drivers had a wide open street to speed on under the old "4 lane" configuration. This lead to chronic problems of collisions and even death. <a href="http://www.chp.ca.gov/switrs/switrs2000.html">SWITRS</a> (a CHP maintained statewide database) <a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B9eZoX0SpZv4MmM0OWVmMjctZjFhZC00NjVjLTg2MGMtNDhjOWIzNjdjYTEx&hl=en&authkey=CIWZzIEO">statistics analysis</a> reveals that in just 10 years 5 people died and more than 300 collisions occurred on the two mile stretch in which the new configuration was striped. The problem was significant enough that the<a href="http://cityplanning.lacity.org/complan/pdf/nrdcptxt.pdf"> 1998 Northridge community plan</a> - part of the city wide general planning document - focuses on Wilbur specifically by name and calls for "narrowing of travel lanes, chokers or sidewalk bulges" to calm speeders.<br />
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Despite the calls in the LA City General plan for a safer more residential Wilbur, in 2009, the LADOT attempted to remove the crosswalks at Prairie and Superior posting small signs at the crosswalks to alert the community of their impending removal. The people in the community reacted fiercely, signing 600 petition signatures in favor of keeping the crosswalks and showing up to Northridge West and Northridge East Neighborhood Council meetings. People voiced demands that the crosswalks stay and that peak hour lanes not be installed on Reseda Blvd. in the residential area north of Devonshire. Both meetings featured heated and passionate public comment directed at the LADOT representatives from the local residents.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7s48SEUuSgM/TYrgoO-ggvI/AAAAAAAAABU/NK0aVLd01aI/s1600/crashstats.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7s48SEUuSgM/TYrgoO-ggvI/AAAAAAAAABU/NK0aVLd01aI/s400/crashstats.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CHP/LAPD statistics re the 2 mile stretch of Wilbur now cured by the road diet.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
Fast forward to 2010 when Wilbur was scheduled for a re-pavement. The LADOT, perhaps responding directly to the lashing from the year before, installed what is called a <a href="http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safety/humanfac/04082/index.cfm">road diet</a> on Wilbur Ave. A road diet takes a 4 lane street and converts it to a 3 lane street with bike lanes and added parking. This configuration gave drivers an option to use the center turn lane to slow and turn from rather than stopping in the path of (often) speeding traffic. With a contiguous center turn lane, left turns into driveways and street-locked communities became much safer. The statistics showed left turn collisions were the majority of crashes that were occurring under the 4 lane configuration. Drivers were vulnerable to speeders zooming up from behind who then either had to slow down or move to the right to pass - a dangerous situation especially in a residential area. With the road diet in place, drivers could now avoid stopping in the "fast lane" in order to make a left.<br />
<br />
The road diet ultimately engineered slower more reasonable speeds of 35-40 mph which of course was not received well by those who were used to speeding on Wilbur. One LA Times reporter and Porter Ranch resident lamented the loss of her <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2010/oct/09/local/la-me-banks-20101009">"speedway."</a> Parents dropping their kids off at the area schools became infuriated at the initial backup caused by the road diet. An angry mob hurled insults at Rita Robinson, the LADOT General Manager at the time who happened to have a speaking engagement scheduled at the Porter Ranch neighborhood council shortly after the road diet was striped. One NC member famously called her an "idiot" in a fit of anger. The situation was only made more hostile by the fact that Councilman Smith, whose office is located on the south end of Wilbur was vehemently opposed to the road diet.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>The Wilbur Working Group Ad-Hoc Committee is formed</b> <br />
<br />
To address the anti-road diet crowd, Councilman Greig Smith formed an ad hoc committee headed up by Chief of Staff Mitch Englander. Smith put Porter Ranch NC and Northridge West NC in charge of assigning members to the committee. After the committee came to a decision Smith proclaimed, there would be a joint NC vote on the matter. Immediately, the committee was stacked with anti-road diet people. 3 from Porter Ranch, 2 from the Ridgegate and Belcourt gated communities and 3 from Northridge West. The only pro-road diet voice initially was Paul Kirk a resident of a street-locked community south of Plummer. Two other representatives chosen by Northridge West lived North of Devonshire and were vehemently anti-road diet.<br />
<br />
Wilbur Residents express support for the road diet:<br />
<object height="349" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TlvBLqi5lpI?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TlvBLqi5lpI?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="349" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-raCZUGcqZHQ/TZ5RcNQxIVI/AAAAAAAAABo/uLSYxHUF_WA/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-04-07+at+5.03.11+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><br />
<b>Representation by people living on Wilbur aggressively quieted</b><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V7K5-2sXu2Y/TWf7GZOAz1I/AAAAAAAAAA8/AmxP2Aniduo/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-02-25+at+10.29.59+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="305" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V7K5-2sXu2Y/TWf7GZOAz1I/AAAAAAAAAA8/AmxP2Aniduo/s320/Screen+shot+2011-02-25+at+10.29.59+AM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alternative plan rejected by LADOT and CD12</td></tr>
</tbody></table>One problem for Smith and the anti-road diet crowd... The people that actually lived on Wilbur and within the street-locked neighborhoods were in favor of the new configuration and wanted to be heard. Many felt that having a calmer safer street with better turning ability and bike lanes as a "buffer zone" between traffic and their homes was an improvement. People from the community circulated petitions and made phone calls in support of the new configuration. With no representation of the people that actually lived on the street I pleaded to become a member of the committee arguing that people that live on the street itself should have a say. Smith's chief of staff Mitch Englander, himself an anti-road diet advocate, actively blocked my attendance to the crucial first meeting of the Ad-Hoc committee. This, despite presenting petition signatures from nearly every resident that lived on Wilbur from Nordhoff to Chatsworth requesting my attendance as their representative. By the time the second and third meeting of the Wilbur Ad Hoc committee adjourned, the Mayall high speed merge was a part of the plan. Despite my objections, the LADOT explained there was no other possible alternative design available. Stop signs, street lights, 4 lanes to Devonshire - all possible remedies to the speeding and the morning school drop off issue were flatly rejected. Furthermore during the meeting city officials refused to address the cost of the 2nd re-striping despite repeated questions from both pro and anti road diet voices regarding the matter. Traffic counts and cost were not considered. <br />
<br />
<b>The Town Hall Meeting</b><br />
<br />
The conclusion of the matter was a March 15th <a href="http://safestreetsnorthridge.blogspot.com/2011/03/joint-meeting-recap-joint-panel-votes.html">townhall meeting</a> where the joint Porter Ranch and Northridge west NC panel would decide the fate of Wilbur. Even the location of the meeting became an issue as the anti-road diet voices pushed to have the meeting at the regularly scheduled Porter Ranch NC meeting place. This did not seem fair after all, the entirety of the road diet existed within the boundaries of Northridge West. The meeting was moved to Nobel Middle School auditorium where an estimated crowd of 500 people showed up. About 2/3 of the people were clearly anti-road diet, most of which were from Porter Ranch. The other 1/3 were pro-road diet and pro-residential Wilbur.<br />
<br />
Presentation against the Mayall merge:<br />
<object height="349" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qTSwbJq3oyE?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qTSwbJq3oyE?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="349" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><br />
<br />
<br />
The LADOT presented their design to the crowd, along with cases presented both for and against the LADOT proposed re-design. The joint panel ultimately <a href="http://safestreetsnorthridge.blogspot.com/2011/03/joint-meeting-recap-joint-panel-votes.html">voted against the LADOT proposed plan</a> Members of the joint panel, disgusted with the compromise plan and the process itself, abstained in protest that they were only given one option. This apparently was not understood by Councilman Smith who was not present at the meeting but moved ahead with the rejected LADOT plan choosing to override the entire process that many people spent hours of volunteer time attempting to reach a compromise on.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9AYDZ0Z0I18/TfAsqQsE4oI/AAAAAAAAADI/RGsMflxnhxc/s1600/townhall_DSC5889.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9AYDZ0Z0I18/TfAsqQsE4oI/AAAAAAAAADI/RGsMflxnhxc/s640/townhall_DSC5889.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mitch Englander addresses a packed town hall meeting</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<b>The final cost... </b><br />
<br />
Only 10 months after the initial re-pavement of Wilbur, the Bureau of Street Services and the LADOT are back to re-pave and re-stripe Wilbur. Instead of a crosswalk, the community gets a $45,000 "finish line" at Mayall, in a residential area of Wilbur, a block west of Nobel Middle School and adjacent to a streetlocked community to the east. Meanwhile not 2 miles away, a worn out crosswalk on Zelzah, <a href="http://safestreetsnorthridge.blogspot.com/2011/05/3-high-school-students-hospitalized.html">recently the site of a collision that sent 3 pedestrians to the hospital</a>, deteriorates... in need of a new paint job.Safe Streets Northridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08101253359844352877noreply@blogger.com1Northridge, Los Angeles, CA, USA34.2536349 -118.5448008999999834.2155994 -118.58480239999999 34.2916704 -118.50479939999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141869576631967681.post-36792480993324990542011-05-24T11:54:00.000-07:002011-05-24T11:54:28.829-07:00ACTION ALERT! Tell Congress: Fix pedestrian safety, don't make it worse!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://t4america.org/wp-content/themes/t4/images/logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://t4america.org/wp-content/themes/t4/images/logo.png" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em;">If a jumbo jet went down every month, Congress would pass laws left and right. If a consumer product injured someone every seven minutes, the feds would shut down production. <br />
<br />
Well, that’s exactly how many Americans are being killed and injured in the act of walking pedestrian-unfriendly streets, according to our report, out today. But in the case of pedestrian safety,<b> our federal tax dollars actually go to build streets that are designed to be perilous to children, the elderly and everyone else. </b><br />
<br />
And yet, right now, some in Congress are trying to kill funding for projects to make it safer to walk and bicycle!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em;"><a href="http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=VodAHbpTD9ZQexuWT4aooDLUOOamHIDQ" target="_blank"><b>Join us - ask your representative and senators in Washington to show us that they take pedestrian and bike fatalities seriously. </b></a><br />
<br />
Our Dangerous by Design research found that more than 47,700 Americans were struck and killed while walking and another 688,000 were injured from 2000 to 2009. The highways-only lobby insists that pedestrian safety is a “frill” and a local responsibility. <b>But 67 percent of these fatalities over the last 10 years occurred on federal-aid roads </b>— roads eligible to receive federal funding or with federal guidelines or oversight for their design. <br />
<br />
That’s right: <b>Federal programs have encouraged state departments of transportation to prioritize speeding traffic over the safety of people in our neighborhoods and shopping districts. </b><br />
<br />
The irony is that fixing these conditions is relatively cheap: Existing funds for that purpose – now targeted for elimination -- <b>amount to less than 1.5 percent of the current federal transportation outlay</b>. A policy of giving federal support only to “complete streets” that are designed for the safety of people on foot or bicycle as well as in cars would cost next to nothing.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em;"><a href="http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=QGEamfxqHl9%2BNx1H72DcCTLUOOamHIDQ" target="_blank"><b>Tell Congress: it's no time to start cutting funding that helps keep pedestrians safe. </b></a> <br />
<br />
Thank you for helping fix our transportation system to make it safe, reliable, and accessible for everyone!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em;">Stephen Lee Davis<br />
Deputy Communications Director<br />
Transportation for America</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em;"><i>Read our new report, Dangerous by Design, at </i><i><a href="http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=o6y85tnrQg%2FiY0CpxmpoFx3Fatq1YmxA" target="_blank">t4america.org/resources/<wbr></wbr>dangerousbydesign2011<br />
</a>And a map of Complete Streets policies across the country: <a href="http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=R6OUGuBjcTz8mcqWTZtzkjLUOOamHIDQ" target="_blank">http://www.completestreets.<wbr></wbr>org/complete-streets-<wbr></wbr>fundamentals/complete-streets-<wbr></wbr>atlas/ </a></i></div>Safe Streets Northridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08101253359844352877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141869576631967681.post-9123181920806522282011-05-19T17:59:00.000-07:002011-05-19T17:59:10.466-07:00Another Month, Another Hit and Run Killer At Large in the West ValleyNorthridge West President Tom Johnson just passed this info on to me. If any one has ANY info please contact <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a;"> 1-877-LAPD-24-7 or the LAPD detective listed below.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a;">71 year old bicyclist fatally struck by hit and run vehicle in Canoga Park </span><span style="color: #2a2a2a;">On Saturday, May, 14 2011 at approximately 1215 pm, a vehicle described as a small black 4 door sports utility type vehicle was traveling eastbound on Sherman Way. The vehicle negotiated a right turn onto Canoga Avenue where it struck a bicyclist that was traveling eastbound on the south crosswalk of Sherman Way. The impact caused the bicyclist to collide with the ground. The driver left the scene failing to render aid and exchange information as required by law. The bicyclist sustained severe injuries and was transported to a local hospital where he died two days later as a result of his injuries. <br />
<br />
The bicyclist was identified as 71 year old Eduardo Perez a resident of Canoga Park. </span></span></div><div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a;">The hit and run driver and vehicle remain outstanding. <br />
<br />
Anyone who may have witnessed the traffic collision is being asked to contact LAPD Valley Traffic Division Officer Martinez at <a href="tel:%28818%29%20644-8032" target="_blank" value="+18186448032">(818) 644-8032</a>, or Detective I Krajchir at <a href="tel:%28818%29%20644-8034" target="_blank" value="+18186448034">(818) 644-8034</a>. During non-business hours or weekends, calls may be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS <a href="tel:%28800%29-222-8477" target="_blank" value="+18002228477">(800)-222-8477</a>). Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most key pads) using a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” </span></span></div><div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;"><br />
</div><div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a;">Tipsters can also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on “web tips” and follow the prompts. </span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a;">For full details, go to <a href="https://local.nixle.com/alert/4691964/?sub_id=474305" target="_blank">https://local.nixle.com/alert/<wbr></wbr>4691964/?sub_id=474305</a>.</span></span></div><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m5nIs03xp9U/TdW8dkfTstI/AAAAAAAAAC8/NfjXov3VZDs/s1600/SHERMCANOGA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m5nIs03xp9U/TdW8dkfTstI/AAAAAAAAAC8/NfjXov3VZDs/s640/SHERMCANOGA.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scene of the crime: Sherman Way facing eastbound at cross street Canoga Park</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Safe Streets Northridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08101253359844352877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141869576631967681.post-26355554772833087712011-05-09T12:50:00.000-07:002011-05-09T14:21:42.613-07:003 High School Students Hospitalized after collision on ZelzahThree high school students were hospitalized on Friday after being clobbered in a crosswalk by a motorist who was not cited by police reports the <a href="http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_18008014">Daily News</a>. It makes you wonder what it will take to issue a ticket to someone who does not pay attention while driving. Motorists are to give right of way to pedestrians in a crosswalk. That's the law. If we do nothing to punish drivers who violate the law, the streets will continue to be dangerous for everyone.<br />
<br />
Zelzah is of particular interest because of successful moves by the LADOT to <a href="http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/04/07/city-plans-to-raise-speed-limits-for-valley-as-locals-experience-deadlies-year-for-pedestrians/">increase speed limits</a> on this stretch and other streets in the valley RIGHT NEXT TO SCHOOLS. They got their way. So when will it end? Not long ago Councilman Smith <a href="http://sundial.csun.edu/2010/09/intersection-of-reseda-boulevard-and-dearborn-street-dangerous-for-pedestrians/">finally got the message</a> and compelled the LADOT to install <a href="http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_17029491">a better crosswalk on Reseda</a>.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ptdVQUouE5o/TchFEeefTfI/AAAAAAAAACw/n5fg7BPAZwA/s1600/zelzahcrosswalk.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="393" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ptdVQUouE5o/TchFEeefTfI/AAAAAAAAACw/n5fg7BPAZwA/s640/zelzahcrosswalk.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The LADOT allows crosswalks to fade like this one at Zelzah, the scene of the crime.<br />
In fact they actively remove them whenever possible.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Enforcing the rule of law city wide and reinforcing the importance of crosswalks could save lives and money but instead the LADOT chooses to remove them <a href="http://soapboxla.blogspot.com/2008/08/citywatchla-ladot-dragging-their-feet.html">or drag their feet on installing them</a> creating a self full filling prophecy. The less common pedestrian crossing points become, the less likely drivers will be watching out for them, the more likely people will be injured or die, the more likely people will choose not to walk the more obese our nation becomes.Safe Streets Northridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08101253359844352877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141869576631967681.post-80430168965486619732011-05-04T14:43:00.000-07:002011-05-05T16:10:57.942-07:00Why I support the Life Before License Campaign - a personal story<div class="c2"><span class="c0 c3">One of the more common person on person crimes committed on our streets is that of Hit and Run. Because these crimes are under-reported, they occur more than we realize. My suspicion is that the number of incidents have increased over the years and in direct correlation to the escalation in punishment for drunk driving. People, when faced with DUI charges, have an enormous incentive to run due to the disparity in punishment between DUI and hit and run crimes. I've learned a great deal about hit and run law the hard way... through experience.</span><br />
<span class="c0 c3"><br />
</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LiBxQ7WRjWE/TcHG9NlYhKI/AAAAAAAAACg/bmXK272Tc7M/s1600/P1020306-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LiBxQ7WRjWE/TcHG9NlYhKI/AAAAAAAAACg/bmXK272Tc7M/s200/P1020306-001.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo taken after I was helped to the <br />
curb from the middle of Glendale Blvd.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="c0 c3">As a hit and run survivor, I know the lonely feeling of being left for dead after a collision. On May 19th 2009 I was riding a bicycle on Glendale blvd. I was doing everything right, I had the brightest lights money could buy, I was wearing a helmet, and I was riding in a legal, vehicular fashion when a driver plowed into me from behind at an estimated speed of 50 mph. It was 1 AM and the streets were relatively empty. My bike crumpled as it collided with the grill and my body sunk in to the hood of the gray 4 door 2009 Jaguar. I was carried and thrown some 50 feet and then.... left to fend for myself in the middle of the street. I saw it coming. The driver was speeding, swerving and out of control. I tried to move out of the way but it all happened so fast. Laying face down on the ground, blurry eyed, and in shock I still managed to get most of the plate numbers. Before I even moved I tweeted them on my smashed phone, afraid I would forget the numbers. Fearful of getting hit by another car I was able to crawl to the curb with the help of a security guard and a friend who arrived minutes later. I was taken to the hospital and released that morning - luckily - with only bruises and injuries to my spine, back, elbows and tailbone. Fortunately my helmet and street clothes had protected my body to a degree. </span><span class="c0 c3">Not everyone is as lucky as I was. In fact, just months before, <a href="http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/04/27/hundreds-of-cyclists-stage-die-in-at-jesus-castillos-ghost-bike/">a hit and run victim died</a> not 30 yards from where I had landed.</span><br />
<br />
</div><div class="c2"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YGCP4v-P7es/TcHHIi553pI/AAAAAAAAACk/db6JSHhVHb0/s1600/P1020316-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YGCP4v-P7es/TcHHIi553pI/AAAAAAAAACk/db6JSHhVHb0/s200/P1020316-001.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see my phone in hand <br />
which I used to tweet the plate number.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="c0 c3">Still in great pain, the next day I called the LAPD thinking that having the plate numbers would mean an all out man hunt. On cop shows they always move quick when there are leads in the case right? Sadly, I was dead wrong. The officer who answered seemed almost annoyed that I called. "Did you get hurt?" I was smashed and thrown 50 feet onto the pavement, taken to the hospital and my bike was destroyed. "Did you break any bones?" No, but I'm bruised up, I can barely walk, and my back sustained heavy injury. "Well, it's going to take a couple weeks to run the plates. You only got 6 of the 7 numbers and you didn't break any bones..." I was told to "drive around the area" and "see if I could spot something." I was truly dismayed. What I didn't understand at the time was that hit and runs are so common on our streets that the police and city hardly have the resources lest someone dies. In fact, hit and run crime priority for the police is measured by the injury sustained not by the crime alone. </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2LwE52JnYFM/TcHHxOiTeBI/AAAAAAAAACo/clVJhPASv6c/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-05-04+at+2.39.57+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="96" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2LwE52JnYFM/TcHHxOiTeBI/AAAAAAAAACo/clVJhPASv6c/s200/Screen+shot+2011-05-04+at+2.39.57+PM.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Video still of the car at the shop</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span class="c0 c3">6GYC611... I will never forget that plate number, which turned out to be registered to a car belonging to a man named Glenn Gritzner a politically connected person of sorts who had no priors on his record and seemed to otherwise be an upstanding financially responsible citizen</span><span class="c0 c3">. I was fortunate enough to have friends in high places my damn self, namely a young and scrappy lawyer named <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/DannyJwheels">Danny Jimenez</a> who had a connection in the CHP. It took all of 10 minutes to run the plates and car description turning up a potential match just two miles from the point of impact. It is worth noting that this officer put his neck on the line by handing over the info to Jimenez. The City Attorney pushed me hard to find out who the source of the plate ID was. I refused at first not wanting this person to get in trouble, but the courageous officer whose first name is Gio was vehement in moving forward. I am truly thankful for this man's dedication to justice and I consider him and Jimenez to be true heroes. </span><br />
<span class="c0 c3"> </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M9d4nNCoKZ8/TcHH0sjRQzI/AAAAAAAAACs/N_WpVotAbhw/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-05-04+at+2.39.40+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="95" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M9d4nNCoKZ8/TcHH0sjRQzI/AAAAAAAAACs/N_WpVotAbhw/s200/Screen+shot+2011-05-04+at+2.39.40+PM.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Video still of the car at the shop</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="c0 c3">Armed with the registered owner's info, Jimenez and I scoured Google, Facebook and everywhere else. We uncovered a lot of information and miraculously found the location where the car was being repaired. Rusnak Pasadena. According to the repair order, Gritzner himself had turned in the car just hours after the incident. 9:39 AM to be exact. "Yes the car is getting repaired - new bumper, grill and hood it will be ready by Friday" said the receptionist. </span><br />
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<span class="c0 c3">Just 4 days after the incident, I made my way down to the LAPD Central Division, and turned in the comprehensive evidence Jimenez and I had gathered. Photos, Blog posts, Facebook archives, address, phone number, maps, even video of the car being repaired... "Wow. You did all the work for us." proclaimed the detective on duty. "Sign here please and check back in a couple weeks." By now I wasn't expecting much from the police and to their defense, the men and women of LAPD Central Division work in complete squalor. The station, located in the heart of Skid Row was dark and dingy, the computers were old and there was paperwork stacked everywhere. Our city is broke and it showed. Detective Wilson was eventually assigned to my case and she worked hard - sometimes even on her days off - going out of her way to subpoena crucial evidence from the insurance company. The police report states that Gritzner admitted to hitting me, but sadly the judge ruled that this evidence could not be used against him in court due to "attorney client privilege." </span><br />
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<span class="c0 c3">In the end, Gritzner never actually had to set foot in the courtroom. After a ferocious fight through his private attorney, Gritzner plead no contest to one count of misdemeanor hit and run "stipulating to the facts in the case" which meant that he did not dispute the official version of what happened that night and that I could move forward with relative ease in the civil matter. It was a long process to justice, taking about a year for the criminal side and an additional 6 or 7 months for the civil side. His punishment? A $500 fine and 30 days of Cal Trans clean up. It became clear to me at that point why some people choose to run.</span><br />
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<span class="c0 c3">Truth is, we can never know why most hit and run perpetrators leave their victims behind since most are never identified.. but hypothetically speaking, if a driver is drunk, running away pays off. The punishment for hit and run crimes is far weaker than DUI let alone DUI with a collision resulting in bodily harm. When a driver stays at the scene and is found drunk, they usually spend at least one night in jail and have a whole mess of legal issues and expenses to deal with. This alone is enormous incentive to run. I hold he system accountable above all else.</span><br />
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<span class="c0 c3"></span><br />
<span class="c0 c3">As of this posting the <a href="http://safestreetsnorthridge.blogspot.com/2011/04/hit-and-run-killer-at-large-in-west.html">killer of Chatsworth High student German Alex Romero</a> is still at large along with countless other hit and run criminals. Romero will unfortunately not be the last person killed on our streets.</span><br />
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<b><span class="c0 c3">SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE....</span></b><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="c0 c3"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">LIFE BEFORE LICENSE CAMPAIGN</span></b></span><br />
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<span class="c0 c3">Safe Streets Northridge proudly endorses the "Life Before License" campaign. An initiative put together by <a href="http://www.bikesidela.org/">Dr. Alex Thompson and Bikeside LA</a>. It calls for the automatic suspension of a driver's license for ANY hit and run crime be it against drivers, cyclists or pedestrians with varying lengths of suspension pending the severity of the damage and injury with death carrying the heaviest punishment. We forget in this car-centric country that driving is a privilege, not a right and judges and the system are far too lenient in the way it treats drivers. This results in a lax atmosphere of accountability on our streets, a recipe for death.</span></div><div class="c2"><br />
</div><div class="c2">Join me in endorsing the Life Before License campaign. If you know of any group or political figure who can help PLEASE contact myself or Alex Thompson. I will be introducing a motion this Tuesday at the Northridge West Neighborhood Council where I expect unanimous support. Come out and support this very important initiative to make our streets safer.<span id="goog_69013759"></span><span id="goog_69013760"></span><br />
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<br />
<blockquote>LIFE BEFORE LICENSE CAMPAIGN:<br />
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</blockquote></div><blockquote><div class="c2"><span class="c0 c3">WHEREAS 32% of all collisions in Los Angeles are hit and run, AND</span></div><div class="c2"><span class="c0 c3">WHEREAS leaving the scene of a collision is a failure to take responsibility for one’s actions and the safety of others, and therefore demonstrates a tendency to drive unsafely, AND</span></div><div class="c2"><span class="c0 c3">WHEREAS currently there is not a mandated loss of driving privileges for those convicted of hit and run, AND</span></div><div class="c2"><span class="c0 c3">WHEREAS judges sentencing convicted hit and runners rarely take away the perpetrator’s driving privileges,</span></div><div class="c2"><span class="c0">Safe Streets Northridge hereby endorses the Life Before License campaign to change California law so that once convicted of a hit and run, perpetrators will automatically lose all driving privileges, and that the duration of the loss will correspond to the severity of the impact of the hit and run as follows:</span></div><ol class="c6" start="1"><li class="c1"><span class="c0">A hit and run which results in fatality will result in the loss of driving privileges for 10 years.</span></li>
<li class="c1"><span class="c0">A hit and run which results in permanent disability, or causes a life threatening injury will result in the loss of driving privileges for 5 years.</span></li>
<li class="c1"><span class="c0">A hit and run which results in injury, but which does not lead to permanent disability or a life threatening injury, will result in the loss of driving privileges for 2 years.</span></li>
<li class="c1"><span class="c0">A hit and run which results in the damage of property only will result in the loss of driving privileges for 1 year.</span></li>
</ol><hr /><div class="c2"><span class="c0"></span></div></blockquote><br />
Dr. Alex Thompson states:<br />
<blockquote><div class="c2"><span class="c0">In LA, 32% of all collisions are hit and run [2008 SWITRS data, California Highway Patrol.] In other words, Los Angelinos involved in a collision have a nearly 2 in 5 chance of being left to fend for themselves. Worse, in those cases where a hit and run perpetrator is caught and convicted, judges rarely take away the convicts driving privileges. Life Before License, a campaign started by the cycling advocacy organization Bikeside, will seek mandatory loss of driving privileges for convicted hit and run perpetrators.</span></div><div class="c2"><span class="c0"> </span></div><div class="c2"><span class="c0">The cycling community has been a leader in identifying this problem, which is ironic given that cyclists involved in collisions are less likely to be left as victims of hit and run, 23% [LAPD, 2008 SWITRS data analysis], not more likely. </span><span class="c0 c4">Hit and run is a problem for everyone on our streets.</span></div><div class="c2"><span class="c0">It’s a problem by definition. A hit and run perpetrator leaves the scene, and continues to drive. In leaving the scene they send a signal - they will not take responsibility for their actions, they will not take care of another person in need. In continuing to drive, they put us all at risk.</span></div><div class="c2"><span class="c0">Of all the people who we can issue drivers licenses to, aren’t these the worst candidates? And yet prosecutors have refused to ask for revocation of driving privileges on the basis that they will have difficulty getting to their job, and therefore difficulty paying restitution. Similarly, judges in the same breath have given the convicted a litany of treatments for driving under the influence, and then done nothing to address the convicted drivers driving privileges. This is not sane - to put drivers who have demonstrated their lack of respect for life and property behind the wheel again.</span></div><div class="c2"><span class="c0">So, Life Before License seeks mandatory loss of driving privileges for those convicted of hit and run, to commence at the termination of any related period of incarceration, with the length of loss directly tied to the impact of the convicts hit and run:</span></div></blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><span class="c0">1. - fatality --> 10 years</span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><span class="c0">2. - permanent disability or life threatening injury --> 5 years</span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><span class="c0">3. - other injury --> 2 years</span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><span class="c0">4. - property damage only --> 1 year.</span></blockquote></blockquote><ol class="c6" start="1"></ol>Safe Streets Northridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08101253359844352877noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141869576631967681.post-54446616591650345462011-04-22T13:19:00.000-07:002011-05-25T00:21:54.703-07:00Re-Re-Striping Begins. Smith asks LADOT to install $45,000 "Drag Race"Crews were spotted scraping up the lane markings on Wilbur Ave. yesterday afternoon. At a cost equivalent to Northridge West's entire annual budget, Councilman Smith has decided to go ahead with the LADOT "compromise" plan for Wilbur Ave. This plan, <a href="http://safestreetsnorthridge.blogspot.com/2011/03/joint-meeting-recap-joint-panel-votes.html">rejected by the joint NWNC/PRNC board</a>, will place a <a href="http://safestreetsnorthridge.blogspot.com/2011/04/councilman-greig-smith-ignores-ncs.html">45mph rated merge</a> south of Devonshire right up to the Mayall intersection where more than 100 residents have asked for a crosswalk. Instead they will be getting a $45,000 finish line. Pleas were made to nearly everyone possible including Asst. GM John Fisher and GM Amir Sedadi of the LADOT to re-consider the 45mph merge portion of the "compromise" but obviously those calls have been ignored.<br />
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Meanwhile 3 days have passed and there has yet to be a peep from Smith's office about the <a href="http://safestreetsnorthridge.blogspot.com/2011/04/hit-and-run-killer-at-large-in-west.html">at large hit and run killer currently roaming the West Valley</a>. Perhaps that $45,000 would have better been served as a reward?<br />
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Safe Streets Northridge will be monitoring the Mayall drag race situation via video and providing updates in the near future.<br />
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Until then check this video out - the striping is not even complete and the drag races have begun! Notice the speed at which the FED-EX van launches into the neighborhood. I tried to keep pace but gave up at the 60mph mark. Think this scenario won't play out at every single hour of the day?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Pedal to the metal (think this guy is observing the speed limit?)</b></span><br />
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<b>What Mayall / Wilbur used to look like before the drag race merge: </b><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J_GFv-oeH-c/TbHfVdeZCFI/AAAAAAAAACQ/PGof9i2JrFw/s1600/_DSC6649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J_GFv-oeH-c/TbHfVdeZCFI/AAAAAAAAACQ/PGof9i2JrFw/s640/_DSC6649.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smith made sure that the crews came out during the day this time.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QZJBrV2zxtI/TbHfWObzO9I/AAAAAAAAACU/tyHveedjuO8/s1600/_DSC6657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="396" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QZJBrV2zxtI/TbHfWObzO9I/AAAAAAAAACU/tyHveedjuO8/s640/_DSC6657.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking north towards Devonshire where the drag race begins.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1jYwM6CmyKo/TbHfWzy-2eI/AAAAAAAAACY/kiqQ_4cmoKg/s1600/mayall_DSC6656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1jYwM6CmyKo/TbHfWzy-2eI/AAAAAAAAACY/kiqQ_4cmoKg/s640/mayall_DSC6656.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The briefly quieter more peaceful Mayall intersection soon to have painted in conflict.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Safe Streets Northridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08101253359844352877noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141869576631967681.post-76415509572753231002011-04-21T11:00:00.000-07:002011-04-22T11:29:42.652-07:00Hit and Run Killer at large in West ValleyA 17 year old Chatsworth High student was killed last night by a hit and run driver at approximately 9pm near the intersection of Valerio and DeSoto. Please be on the look out for a Toyota Corolla or Camry hatchback, described as possibly gray in color with moderate to severe damage to the front passenger side of the vehicle.<br />
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Police urge anyone with information to call 818-644-8034 or 818-644-8032<br />
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<object height="268" id="otvPlayer" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://cdn.abclocal.go.com/static/flash/embeddedPlayer/swf/otvEmLoader.swf?version=&station=kabc§ion=&mediaId=8087532&cdnRoot=http://cdn.abclocal.go.com&webRoot=http://abclocal.go.com&configPath=/util/&site=" ></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><param name="allowNetworking" value="all"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed id="otvPlayer" width="400" height="268" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allownetworking="all" allowfullscreen="true" src="http://cdn.abclocal.go.com/static/flash/embeddedPlayer/swf/otvEmLoader.swf?version=&station=kabc§ion=&mediaId=8087532&cdnRoot=http://cdn.abclocal.go.com&webRoot=http://abclocal.go.com&configPath=/util/&site="></embed></object><br />
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Please read more about the crime here:<br />
<a href="http://laist.com/2011/04/21/chatsworth_high_senior_killed_by_hi.php">http://laist.com/2011/04/21/chatsworth_high_senior_killed_by_hi.php</a><br />
<a href="http://chatsworth.patch.com/articles/chatsworth-high-senior-killed-in-hit-and-run-accident">http://chatsworth.patch.com/articles/chatsworth-high-senior-killed-in-hit-and-run-accident</a><br />
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Approximate location of the crime:<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=desoto+and+valerio&aq=&sll=33.880212,-118.034773&sspn=0.899533,1.674042&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=De+Soto+Ave+%26+Valerio+St,+Los+Angeles,+California+91303&t=h&z=14&ll=34.204686,-118.588473&output=embed" width="425"></iframe><br />
<small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=desoto+and+valerio&aq=&sll=33.880212,-118.034773&sspn=0.899533,1.674042&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=De+Soto+Ave+%26+Valerio+St,+Los+Angeles,+California+91303&t=h&z=14&ll=34.204686,-118.588473" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small><br />
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None of the news reports are clear on model year but these photos are generally what the car MIGHT look like:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F-LLZ9iv61I/TbBv5gvGWWI/AAAAAAAAACA/YCo0425-Fvk/s1600/2006_Corolla_V5696.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F-LLZ9iv61I/TbBv5gvGWWI/AAAAAAAAACA/YCo0425-Fvk/s400/2006_Corolla_V5696.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VHbVyL6PWRg/TbHJA6qV7KI/AAAAAAAAACM/QPAXK_EhfYw/s1600/2007_toyota_camry_silver_gray_92826575631391694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VHbVyL6PWRg/TbHJA6qV7KI/AAAAAAAAACM/QPAXK_EhfYw/s400/2007_toyota_camry_silver_gray_92826575631391694.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bbi1s_JWEPI/TbBv67Y2kxI/AAAAAAAAACI/UNMFrvf9cw4/s1600/iD55081_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bbi1s_JWEPI/TbBv67Y2kxI/AAAAAAAAACI/UNMFrvf9cw4/s400/iD55081_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Safe Streets Northridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08101253359844352877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141869576631967681.post-51470308815305249792011-04-07T17:28:00.000-07:002011-04-12T12:42:54.797-07:00Councilman Greig Smith overrides NC's / community, moves ahead with publicly rejected LADOT plan.Councilman Smith, in a short paragraph on the<a href="http://cd12.lacity.org/index.htm"> CD12 website</a> announced his recommendation that the LADOT go ahead with the proposed compromise plan. This despite the fact that many in the community are outraged at being given only one choice, a choice that both camps are dissatisfied with for different reasons.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b> Painting in a 45mph Rated Bottleneck in a residential area?</b></span> <br />
The one truly controversial portion of the LADOT compromise is the high speed rated merge just south of Devonshire that re-creates the very same scenario that led to problems and crashes under the old "4 lane" configuration at Plummer and Dearborn streets. Installment of this merge is in fact a slap in the face to the many residents near Mayall who have been asking for a crosswalk who will now find themselves with an even more difficult intersection to cross on foot sans crosswalk. <br />
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As you can see in the diagram below, the proposed solution to the back up problem at Devonshire is to create a 2 lane merge immediately south of Devonshire to shift the peak traffic backup. However, anyone and everyone who has looked at this plan can see the induced drag race scenario that will play out with every green light at Devonshire south as traffic crazed parents and commuters will suddenly find themselves having to compete for position right up to the Mayall intersection. Some drivers will be slowing to make a right turn while other drivers will just be settling into their merged position, while still others focused on their left side mirrors and traffic behind them will have less attention to pay to what's in front of them. A recipe for disaster. This says nothing of the historic speeding that will be achieved during NON PEAK driving time (22-23 hours of the day.)<br />
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Pual Kirk, a neighborhood resident who himself collected 300 petitions in support of the Road Diet states: "In accommodating the ingress-egress problem the gated communities Ridgegate and Bellcourt have north of Devonshire, (which needed to be addressed), what sense does it make to move the gated communities problem south to the land-locked community of Tuba/Crebs and the Mayall community west of Wilbur? Is it fair to simply transfer problems that gated communities have to older land-locked communities that are not gated? If the high speed merge is to be included in the plan, a traffic light at Mayall is imperative for the safety of the neighborhood."<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">LADOT "COMPROMISE:" A drag race from Devonshire to Mayall! </span></b><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UfL2mFKgZgI/TaSoh7bfnOI/AAAAAAAAAB8/W1ix6NBRCLg/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-04-12+at+12.30.33+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UfL2mFKgZgI/TaSoh7bfnOI/AAAAAAAAAB8/W1ix6NBRCLg/s640/Screen+shot+2011-04-12+at+12.30.33+PM.png" width="549" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The LADOT is proposing a 45 mph high speed merge just south of Devonshire. The finish line? Mayall, where more than a hundred residents asked for a crosswalk.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-raCZUGcqZHQ/TZ5RcNQxIVI/AAAAAAAAABo/uLSYxHUF_WA/s1600/Screen%2Bshot%2B2011-04-07%2Bat%2B5.03.11%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Pushing this plan forward is irresponsible. </b></span><br />
9 months ago Councilman Smith set forth a process to engage the community because, as he said, the LADOT did not. Yet, after the LADOT plan was rejected by the very process that he created, Smith is now apparently pushing the plan forward anyway. The fact is that, after 4 Wilbur Working Group meetings, <a href="http://safestreetsnorthridge.blogspot.com/2011/03/joint-meeting-recap-joint-panel-votes.html">One huge town hall meeting</a>, and a lot of citizen volunteer work, the LADOT only ever presented ONE option to the Wilbur Working Group (at the second of 4 meetings.) This compromise plan was eventually REJECTED by both "for" and "against" public voices on the matter at the joint PRNC and NWNC town hall meeting including a rejection by the voting body itself. Had Smith actually shown up to the townhall meeting (or any of the meetings) perhaps he would have seen the dismay from all camps first hand and worked to provide a better solution. Instead, Smith has elected to scrap the recommendations of the joint committee all together, ignoring the wishes of the community for more options and instead spending $40,000 in scarce public money to implement a plan that is flawed in a very serious way.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Prediction based on historical DATA: </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Increased conflict and collisions at Mayall.</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Based on previous data at Dearborn and Wilbur we know there is a strong likelihood that collisions will increase over the current configuration at Mayall. There is evidence that conditions will be worse as both Plummer and Dearborn bottlenecks presented merges ending at traffic lights while the Mayall merge <i>begins</i> with a traffic light at Devonshire a quarter mile before the Mayall intersection where the merge ends.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">IGNORED SOLUTION!! 4 lanes to Devonshire NO 45mph rated merge. Install Crosswalk at Mayall / Wilbur.</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The LADOT has identified that the problem area is between Chatsworth and Devonshire in the mornings during peak traffic. According to the official traffic counts the congestion occurs from 7:30-7:55am and is largely due to Nobel school drop off. This can be fixed by implementing MOST of the LADOT compromise plan while preserving the residential character of the current configuration south of Devonshire as shown in this alternative proposal. The alternative proposal would also include a crosswalk at Mayall. The crosswalk was unanimously endorsed by the Northridge West Neighborhood Council on February 8th.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The alternate plan rejected by Smith and the LADOT would satisfy the stated desires of Ridge Gate and Belcourt gated communities to the north of Devonshire while preserving the safety and residential character of the area south of Devonshire.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Councilman Smith announces his decision to go against the wishes of the public body he created.</td></tr>
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</a>Safe Streets Northridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08101253359844352877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141869576631967681.post-53705219439478529672011-03-28T15:17:00.000-07:002011-03-28T16:39:52.688-07:00Northidge South Neighborhood Council unanimously supports completion of Reseda bike lanes.<table></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" class="dsR4"><tbody>
<tr> <td>The Northridge South Neighborhood Council voted 12-0 to endorse the completion of the Reseda Bike lanes from Roscoe to Parthenia. This particular stretch of road would be the final piece needed to complete a vital north - south bicycle friendly option in the west valley region. Among many important aspects of this project is connecting the orange line bike path to CSUN. If Northridge is truly to be a "college town" as the Northridge Vision plan comes to shape we will need to provide students with more options to get to and from school. Many residents in the CSUN area have raised issues with student off site car parking. Encouraging bicycle commuting to CSUN would work to alleviate some of that problem.<br />
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Though the bicycle lane does briefly become replaced by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shared_lane_marking">sharrows</a> just north and south of Sherman Way (the jury is still out if the sharrow pilot in that area is having any kind of affect) generally speaking, Reseda Blvd. bike lanes will be complete should this plan get the pass from Greig smith's office. <br />
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In a reversal of recent process, an LADOT representative presented the street diagrams to the stakeholders in giant b/w print outs accompanied by a verbal run through of the plan and timeline for implementation.<br />
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This was my first visit to NSNC and I was surprised to find a friendly and supportive board who seemed to receive the many bike lane supporters in the audience with open arms. At one point a speaker asked the board if any of them cycle regularly and several raised their hands. <br />
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Glen Bailey BAC Chairman, led the effort to notify 100+ businesses along the block between Napa and Chase that will lose some parking on the east side of the street. He reported reactions both for and against with a mjority for. A fast food restaurant with a large parking lot on the block received the news very well stating that several of it's workers get to work via bicycle. Indeed, one businessman did show and make public comment that he was concerned about the safety of the street and the potential issues related to the loss of parking.<br />
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</td> <td><div style="text-align: right;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="550" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=214857822882066845320.00049f92550ee4447bcdf&ll=34.22479,-118.5357&spn=0.009758,0.005364&z=16&output=embed" width="250"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: right;"><small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=214857822882066845320.00049f92550ee4447bcdf&ll=34.22479,-118.5357&spn=0.009758,0.005364&z=16&source=embed" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">Reseda Bike Lanes proposed connection</a> in a larger map</small></div></td> </tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mgqs4eTSIM4/TZEIQ4PvfqI/AAAAAAAAABk/Zy87U1BY9Ks/s1600/momandkid_DSC5950.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mgqs4eTSIM4/TZEIQ4PvfqI/AAAAAAAAABk/Zy87U1BY9Ks/s400/momandkid_DSC5950.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mother and Daughter supporters ride bikes in the area</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Among the many supporters was a mother and her daughter who ride a bike in the area. Other businesses who supported the lane including not surprisingly, Cycle World were also present. After public comment the council addressed the concerned businessman directly asking how he felt now that he heard the public support. He responded with a change of heart and seemed genuinely opened to the idea. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FxtjSvTuEPw/TZEG8Me2fMI/AAAAAAAAABg/PlbE3b_0cwo/s1600/reseda_DSC5947.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="330" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FxtjSvTuEPw/TZEG8Me2fMI/AAAAAAAAABg/PlbE3b_0cwo/s640/reseda_DSC5947.png" width="640" /></a></div>Safe Streets Northridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08101253359844352877noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141869576631967681.post-12786886317343676442011-03-26T15:36:00.000-07:002011-03-27T00:00:29.264-07:00Calls for a safer Wilbur Ave. 13 years ago....<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Calls for a safer Wilbur date back to 1998 </b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northridge Community Plan specifically mentions Wilbur Ave. as a target for traffic calming</td></tr>
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Wilbur's safety woes are nothing new. As far back as 1998 the Northridge Community Plan, part of the Los Angeles City General Plan, calls specifically for Wilbur avenue to receive traffic calming measures:<br />
<blockquote><br />
<a href="http://cityplanning.lacity.org/complan/pdf/nrdcptxt.pdf" target="_blank">http://cityplanning.lacity.<wbr></wbr>org/complan/pdf/nrdcptxt.pdf</a><br />
(on page III=25) in section 13-1.3,under GOAL 13, Objective 13-1, Policies<br />
last updated 1998, <br />
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13-1.3<br />
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Discourage non-residential traffic flow for streets designed to serve residential areas only by the use of traffic control measures. <b>One problem area is Wilbur Avenue which is a street with excessive traffic speeds through a residential neighborhood.</b> Another area is that surrounding CSUN, where residents have noted the intrusion of traffic and parked cars.<br />
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Program: The use of Residential Neighborhood Protection Plans and traffic calming techniques to relieve congestion on collector streets that are expected to experience traffic congestion by the year 2010. <b>For Wilbur Avenue, techniques can include the narrowing of travel lanes, chokers or sidewalk bulges with landscaping at minor inter-sections, and increased enforcement of posted speed limits. </b> Speeding problems along Wilbur Avenue should first be referred to the Police Department. If the problem is not solved through enforcement, the LADOT should initiate a traffic study to determine the extent of the problem and propose appropriate measures to remedy the situation </blockquote><br />
<b>Note that out of ALL the streets in Northridge, Wilbur is specifically mentioned.</b> Fast forward to 2009 when the LADOT posted notice that they intended to remove the crosswalks at Superior and Prairie. Upon seeing these signs the neighborhood rose up and produced more than <b>600 signatures stating that they wanted to keep those crosswalks.</b> MANY people showed up that summer to speak at both the Northridge West and Northridge East Neighborhood Council meetings to proclaim very loudly and clearly that they wanted those crosswalks to stay and that the speed limit should come down on Wilbur. Paul Meshkin of the LADOT was present at those meetings along with other staff members, the names escape me. They saw the outrage to the crosswalk removals and the disgust at the proposal to install peak hour lanes on Reseda. Most telling sign of the chorus of disapproval present at that meeting? The former president of Northridge West, who had originally introduced a motion supporting peak hour lanes on Reseda, found himself voting against his own motion. People were passionate and I believe the LADOT went back to the drawing board and came back with the only logical answer to most of the problems plaguing Wilbur... a road diet. What other options did they have? Stop signs? More lights? Speed limit decreases?<br />
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What the LADOT did not do was engage the public on the last leg of this journey and that is why we have a rift amongst neighbors. Over time, this rift will heal and perhaps alternate solutions will be proposed.Safe Streets Northridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08101253359844352877noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141869576631967681.post-55207830386012495432011-03-24T05:03:00.000-07:002011-05-24T12:13:36.125-07:00Joint Panel rejects LADOT compromise.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On Tuesday March 15th, the Joint Porter Ranch and Northridge West Townhall / Vote on Wilbur ave. took place.</div><br />
The meeting room was filled with an estimated 450 concerned people from Porter Ranch and Northridge. The process that got us here was set forth by Councilman Smith months ago and the agenda called for presentations to the public and to the joint board comprised of Porter Ranch and Northridge West neighborhood councils. The first presentation was made by the LADOT displaying the compromise plan borne out of the Wilbur Working Group Ad Hoc committee meetings. Next came a question and answer session by the joint board followed by presentation "for" and "against" the LADOT compromise plan. After that, public comment, and lastly a joint board ballot vote on whether to reject or accept the LADOT compromise. In this case, abstentions, it was explained several times through out the meeting, would be tantamount to a vote of no due to the complications of combining two separate boards as a single voting body. In order for the compromise plan to be adopted, a total of 10 yes votes were required.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The LADOT compromise plan was turned down</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>by a vote of 9 yes, 3 no and 7 abstentions. </b></span><br />
<object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F12547060&show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=0099ff"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F12547060&show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=0099ff" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <a href="http://soundcloud.com/safe-streets/president-tom-johnson-presents">President Tom Johnson presents vote results 3/15/2011</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/safe-streets">Safe Streets</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Abstention = NO</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Many on the panel were so frustrated with LADOT's "one option or nothing" approach that they abstained as a form of protest. Several times through out the meeting it was explained by the D.O.N.E. representative that for the purposes of this meeting, and abstention was equal to a vote of no.</span><b> </b></span><br />
<object height="349" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1z1Yp-0yqf8?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1z1Yp-0yqf8?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="349"></embed></object><br />
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For this vote I <b>THANK</b> Porter Ranch and Northridge west Neighborhood Councils. We all made a tough decision but indeed the correct one. The compromise plan, which I have maintained all along was rushed through, created a new and unnecessary danger, and did nothing to fix the "school drop off" problem that exists between 7:30am and 7:55am. Eventually everyone at that meeting realized it. I don't care to speculate on why this plan was rushed through but I can tell you that it definitely was rushed, to it's own peril.<br />
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Moving forward, it can be assumed that a brand new push in the effort to re-stripe Wilbur will emerge. My hope is that any committee formed to oversee such a process will include a healthy representation by the residents living on the street and in the surrounding neighborhoods. Each block has unique interests and there should be carefully considered block by block solutions implemented.<br />
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Do Porter Ranch residents and those living outside of the immediate neighborhood have a say? Of course they do. Should it be an "equal" say? In my humble opinion the voice of "Safety" should always have the most say over any configuration. Since this street is a secondary highway with residential characteristics, local resident's needs should be served primarily and through traffic needs should be served there after.<br />
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<b>Presentation in opposition to the LADOT proposed plan:</b><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/qTSwbJq3oyE?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe><br />
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<b>Presentation in support of the LADOT proposed plan:</b><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TgXr7AKw830?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>"What is the general purpose of a secondary highway." </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Public Comments answered:</b></span><br />
I couldn't get them all, but I posted comments that I felt best characterized the opposition to the road diet. I decided to answer some of the many comments that were submitted the night of the meeting here on this blog. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>For or Against, EVERYONE agrees that</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b> speeding is a problem on Wilbur.</b></span><br />
Of note is that most if not all of the people who opposed the road diet conceded that Wilbur has far too many incidents of speeding above the posted limit. It was also clear that many wish for the return of "4 lanes to Wilbur." The reality is that many in the community surrounding the road diet do not wish to give up the new center turn lane that runs the length of the 2 mile disputed stretch and this is where a compromise will have to take place.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>"The crash stats are scare tactics. I don't believe them and even if true, so what it's normal."</b></span><br />
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The crash data and stats <a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B9eZoX0SpZv4MmM0OWVmMjctZjFhZC00NjVjLTg2MGMtNDhjOWIzNjdjYTEx&hl=en&authkey=CIWZzIEO">(click here for complete report)</a> are indeed scary! They seem unreal but in fact they are a matter of public record. Though the stats are urprisingly DIFFICULT to obtain, but they are available for everyone to inspect online. The California state government maintains an antiquated website tool which connects to the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) database for requesting reports. This system is administered by the CHP.<br />
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<a href="http://iswitrs.chp.ca.gov/Reports/jsp/userLogin.jsp">http://iswitrs.chp.ca.gov/Reports/jsp/userLogin.jsp</a> <br />
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The SWITRS website needs to be updated ASAP. The people should be able to easily obtain crash data and statistics about any street. It would be useful for making decisions for example when purchasing homes or locating safe routes to work or school for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists alike.<br />
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In addition to requesting the data through SWITRS I reached out to Dr. Alex Thompson, Mar Vista Neighborhood Councilman and president of BikesideLA, and Sgt. David Krumer of the LAPD. Both are members of the LAPD Bicycle task Force of which I have been involved as well. Both worked hard to get accurate statistics for this stretch of Wilbur using the SWITRS database.<br />
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Sgt. Krumer's method actually encompassed a broader range of accidents, those occurring up to 30ft from Wilbur at the major intersections and cross streets. The theory being that crashes up to 30 ft from the intersection, on for example Plummer, would still be related to Wilbur Ave since they occurred in such close proximity. That methodology produced more than 350 reported incidents, however as per advisement of Thompson, the radius was cut to zero on incidents reported on that 2 mile stretch of Wilbur in order to remove any doubt that the statistics were doctored to make a stronger case.<br />
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7s48SEUuSgM/TYrgoO-ggvI/AAAAAAAAABU/NK0aVLd01aI/s1600/crashstats.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="367" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7s48SEUuSgM/TYrgoO-ggvI/AAAAAAAAABU/NK0aVLd01aI/s640/crashstats.png" width="640" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><u>The Statistics </u></b></span><br />
Between 1999 and 2008, there were 234 traffic collisions reported on Wilbur Ave between Nordhoff St and Chatsworth, an average of 23 each year. If these collisions were spaced evenly, there would be one every 46 feet, as you walked from Chatsworth to Nordoff. The 234 collisions resulted in 364 injuries, and 5 deaths. If you extend the study to include up to Rinaldi the <b>death toll rises to 8</b> and the crashes increase by more than 150 reported incidents.<br />
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Keep in mind, we all know that the police are loathe to write up accident reports. They expect people to exchange info and settle things through civil means (insurance), they don't like to be bothered. The fact that these incidents found in the SWITRS database are reported means that they had to break a significant thresh hold of severity for the police to decide to take a report.<u><br />
</u><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>"What is an acceptable fatality rate?"</b></span><br />
<div style="color: #990000;"><br />
</div><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F12547905&show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=0099ff"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F12547905&show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=0099ff" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <a href="http://soundcloud.com/safe-streets/what-is-an-acceptible-fatality">what is an acceptible fatality rate LAPD confirms less incidents</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/safe-streets">Safe Streets</a><br />
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Seriously. For those who don't care about the safety of the neighborhood they are speeding through... Well then... IS there a thresh hold death rate that would change their mind? If 1 person dies every year on Wilbur is that acceptable? Perhaps even 2 or 3 people could die per year and some people would still not care.... What is the acceptable death rate?<br />
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<div style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>"Less incidents on Wilbur since the implementation of the road diet." -LAPD </b></span></div><div style="color: black;"><br />
One thing that is difficult for anti road diet people to dismiss is that the new contiguous center turn lane has addressed 77% of the crashes that occurred under the old configuration. The LAPD confirmed as such Tuesday night reporting "Incidents are down since the road diet was implemented."<br />
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Previously, sans-center turn lane, residents have complained of the pressure from speeding traffic approaching from behind to make a quick left from the southbound "fast lane" whilst gauging the often time variably speeding oncoming traffic. A particularly dangerous scenario is when cars approach at different speeds for example a car speeding north passing a slower car in the left lane. This speeding car approaching in the blind spot of the slower car from the south bound left turner's perspective has proven a huge hazard. The center turn lane can not exist under the old configuration and include 4 travel lanes plus parking even without the bike lanes. This is the reality.</div><div style="color: #990000;"><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">"Speeding 13% C'mon man"</span></b><br />
As you can hear in the video above, right after the opposition to the LADOT plan presentation, a person in the audience pointed out that speeding was listed as the cause of "only" 13% of the collisions on Wilbur. The thinking behind this comment seemed to be that if only 13% of the collisions are blamed on speeding it would seem that speeding wasn't a significant enough problem to bother addressing....<br />
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<b>Answer: </b>The speeding as a sole cause of a collision statistic is a bit misleading. Because speed is difficult to assess after the fact and especially when "hidden" behind other factors like running reds collisions and left turn collisions, speeding, as a sole cause of a collision is not so common. The SWITRS data will sometimes list a secondary factor in collisions, but because of the fact that secondary factors are not reported consistently the data was omitted.<br />
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The top two collision factors left turn into oncoming traffic and running reds combined with speeding to make 77% of the collisions. The road diet addresses a clear majority of the problems on Wilbur by providing a left turn lane for people to escape to instead of feeling the pressure of the fast lane rushing up from behind as a driver attempts to get into their driveway or side street. With the calmer flow of single lane car traffic a person can then judge far better when to make a left and is not faced with having to gauge two speeds of oncoming traffic often one car passing another.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">"We NEED the center turn lane."</span></b><br />
I agree! What people don't realize is that there are places south of Plummer where the road narrows and 4 lanes are not possible (regardless of whether there are bike lanes) without removing the center turn lane and / or parking lanes in front of people's homes. These are non negotiable in my mind. Obvious safety and quality of life issues.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">"Are we going to reduce lanes and speeds on EVERY street to make them safer?"</span></b><br />
Not every street. Just the ones that make sense. The character of the neighborhood that lines the street should definitely play a role in how fast the street should be. Obviously a commercial zone would be treated different than a walled off corridor or a neighborhood with homes that have driveway access. Wilbur is classified as a secondary highway by the LADOT. John Fisher GM of the LADOT explains that a secondary highway is made to serve local collector streets with local traffic and "some" through traffic. Wilbur is a wide street yet it has homes with frontages on it including several homes with driveways and no alley access - characteristics of a local access street mixed with the width of a through street. Again, the question can be answered by investigating the kinds of access that a street provides and providing safety above transit speed.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">"Wilbur resident with 6 children</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"> thanks Rita Robonson and the LADOT"</span></b><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/77DoZat6Yxo" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">"Move!"</span></b><br />
Many of those opposed to the traffic calming of Wilbur take the position that people knew what they were getting into when they bought the home and if they don't like it, they should move. This is a phenomenon that I will call NIYBYism. If NIMBYism is "Not in MY backyard" then NIYBYism stands for "Not in YOUR backyard." Basically, people don't want traffic speeding past their own house, but those who try to improve the conditions in front of their houses and in their neighborhood should simply move lest they slow your commute down. The problem with the move mentality is, if one person becomes disgruntled with the volume of traffic and leaves, the next person who settles in will eventually will become disgruntled as well. No one really wants to live in a high volume high speed neighborhood after all.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">"Cyclists don't pay road tax why should they get 50% of the road?"</span></b><br />
There are 7 lanes on Wilbur. 2 parking, 2 travel, 2 bikes lanes, and a center turn lane. Added up by square foot, bike lanes are 1/6th of the space on this 2 mile stretch of road. Many people believe that the gas tax and vehicle registration fees pay for the roads so therefore all of the space should go to cars the thinking goes. In fact this is not true. Local roads are paid for through the general fund which is chiefly sales tax and property tax. The gas tax and car registration fees pay for the state's highway and freeway system most of which do not allow pedestrian or cycling access. Since local roads are paid for by everyone, the full right of use by cyclists and pedestrians is guaranteed by law.<br />
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Not only are local roads subsidized by everyone, they are not paid for proportionately by the vehicles that destroy them most. Every vehicle on the road is a 4000lb pavement destroying machine, wearing and tearing at the asphalt that year after year is rebuilt at an enormous cost to society. By contrast cyclists and pedestrians cause little damage to the roads and infrastructure. Shouldn't we be encouraging people to choose to use alternate forms of transportation simply because it saves tons of road repair money? What if our policy was to tax the heaviest vehicles the most? You break it, you should pay for it right?<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">"Shame on you LADOT!"</span></b><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/A7TJkaPsLfo" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">"Did the LADOT engage the community?"</span></b><br />
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The short answer? A little less than yes, but yes. While it is true that the LADOT seemed to say nothing in advance about the road diet implementation, it is also true that the LADOT got an earful in the past couple years for attempting to remove crosswalks and implement peak hour lanes. While someone at a Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council called Rita Robinson an "idiot." A smaller local group of people applauded her as a hero.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Calls for a safer Wilbur date back to 1998 </b></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CbjrNndOERU/TY1EqoMjW8I/AAAAAAAAABc/NstLAtuSqrk/s1600/northridgecommunityplan001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="417" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CbjrNndOERU/TY1EqoMjW8I/AAAAAAAAABc/NstLAtuSqrk/s640/northridgecommunityplan001.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northridge Community Plan specifically mentions Wilbur Ave. as a target for traffic calming</td></tr>
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Wilbur's safety woes are nothing new. As far back as 1998 the Northridge Community Plan, part of the Los Angeles City General Plan, calls specifically for Wilbur avenue to receive traffic calming measures:<br />
<blockquote><br />
<a href="http://cityplanning.lacity.org/complan/pdf/nrdcptxt.pdf" target="_blank">http://cityplanning.lacity.<wbr></wbr>org/complan/pdf/nrdcptxt.pdf</a><br />
(on page III=25) in section 13-1.3,under GOAL 13, Objective 13-1, Policies<br />
last updated 1998, <br />
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13-1.3<br />
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Discourage non-residential traffic flow for streets designed to serve residential areas only by the use of traffic control measures. <b>One problem area is Wilbur Avenue which is a street with excessive traffic speeds through a residential neighborhood.</b> Another area is that surrounding CSUN, where residents have noted the intrusion of traffic and parked cars.<br />
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Program: The use of Residential Neighborhood Protection Plans and traffic calming techniques to relieve congestion on collector streets that are expected to experience traffic congestion by the year 2010. <b>For Wilbur Avenue, techniques can include the narrowing of travel lanes, chokers or sidewalk bulges with landscaping at minor inter-sections, and increased enforcement of posted speed limits. </b> Speeding problems along Wilbur Avenue should first be referred to the Police Department. If the problem is not solved through enforcement, the LADOT should initiate a traffic study to determine the extent of the problem and propose appropriate measures to remedy the situation </blockquote><br />
<b>Note that out of ALL the streets in Northridge, Wilbur is specifically mentioned.</b> Fast forward to 2009 when the LADOT posted notice that they intended to remove the crosswalks at Superior and Prairie. Upon seeing these signs the neighborhood rose up and produced more than <b>600 signatures stating that they wanted to keep those crosswalks.</b> Many people from the community showed up that summer to speak at both the Northridge West and Northridge East Neighborhood Council meetings to proclaim they wanted those crosswalks to stay and that the speed limit should come down on Wilbur. Paul Meshkin of the LADOT was present at those meetings along with other staff members, the names escape me. They saw the outrage to the crosswalk removals and the disgust at the proposal to install peak hour lanes on Reseda. Everyone at those meetings making public comment spoke in unison. Most telling sign of the chorus of disapproval present at that meeting? The president of Northridge West, who had originally introduced a motion supporting peak hour lanes on Reseda, found himself voting against his own motion. People were passionate and I believe the LADOT went back to the drawing board and came back with the only logical answer to most of the problems plaguing Wilbur... a road diet. What other options did they have?<br />
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What the LADOT did not do was engage the public on the last leg of this journey and that is why we have a rift amongst neighbors. Over time, this rift will heal and perhaps alternate solutions will be proposed.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>"The LADOT snuck in and striped in the middle of the night?!"</b></span><br />
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They sure did... and on a weekend too. Now call me crazy, but I think they do it on weekend nights because.... <b><u>that is when they will cause the least amount of traffic when they block off the entire street to paint!</u></b> This "nasty" characterization of the process has got to be one of the most twisted truths of the whole affair. Raise your hand if you think the streets should be repaired and striped during rush hour. Raise your hand if you think the streets should be striped during business hours or at any time during the day.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Conclusion and</b><b> some asks for the LADOT</b></span><br />
The "old Wilbur" is gone forever. We cannot go back to that dangerous configuration. The 1998 plan called for a safer Wilbur, and the neighborhood called for it in 2009 when it demanded to keep it's crosswalks and 2010 via petitions in favor of the road diet. These pro-road diet petitions were delivered on 8/23/10 a week or so before the striping was laid in. a second round of petitions were gathered in October.<br />
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<blockquote><ul><li><span style="font-size: large;"><b> Please continue to protect residential areas with traffic calming. </b></span></li>
</ul></blockquote><br />
<blockquote><ul><li><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Please put in a crosswalk at Mayall / Wilbur regardless of the count. There are kids in that neighborhood who need to get to Nobel in the near future. Encourage them others to walk.</b></span></li>
</ul></blockquote><br />
<blockquote><ul><li><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Please continue to consider the people living on the street and in the neighborhood first and offer more alternatives to help our neighbors in the north travel through our neighborhood safely.</b></span></li>
</ul></blockquote><br />
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</div>Safe Streets Northridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08101253359844352877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141869576631967681.post-46945257236169313862011-03-14T17:14:00.000-07:002011-03-22T20:37:46.636-07:00The Voices of Wilbur.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object height="390" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TlvBLqi5lpI?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TlvBLqi5lpI?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="390"></embed></object></div><br />
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These are some interviews with pro-road diet people who live in the neighborhood. I gathered these while collecting petitions in support of the Wilbur road diet. Those most supported the new configuration, not everyone I met was for it. Some streets have issues with exiting. My hope is to work with the LADOT and our councilman to fix these issues while maintaining the calmer safer travel speeds that the new configuration has achieved. The first minute or so of this video shows the morning rush hour first in pictures and then with a time lapse camera I put in place during Paul Kirk and Patti Loyola's traffic count.Safe Streets Northridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08101253359844352877noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141869576631967681.post-62764061454648441082011-03-11T17:24:00.000-08:002011-03-11T19:19:09.026-08:00Wilbur Vote is Tuesday 15th 6pm - 8:30pm Nobel Middle SchoolThis Tuesday March 15th at Nobel Middle School there will be a joint Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council and Northridge West Neighborhood Council meeting in which both Councils will hold a cumulative ballot vote on the fate of Wilbur Ave.<br />
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<b>I urge everyone to attend, love the road diet or hate it, and when you do... </b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://safestreetsnorthridge.blogspot.com/2011/03/community-walk-join-us.html">PLEASE JOIN THE COMMUNITY WALK TO THE VOTE!! </a></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Major Concerns: </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Secretive Ballot style Vote....?</b></span><br />
The agenda and procedure for the meeting have been made public. Of concern is that according to number 10 on the list below, the vote will be a "ballot vote" taken by the boards which will conceal the individual votes of the board members. Many feel that the board members should be beholden to the public since they are public representatives of the community and voiced concerns about this at the March 8th NC meeting. PLEASE NOTE that not everyone on the board is comfortable with concealing their vote from the public. <b> </b><br />
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<b>As a representative of the people of my district, I promise to make my vote public the second it is cast. Others on the board have pledged to make their votes public as well.</b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Cumulative Vote on Competing Interests?</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I don't believe that combining the vote of both Neighborhood Councils is appropriate. Porter Ranch has a very different interest in the street than does Northridge west.</span> For Porter Ranch, the conflict is about the speed at which one can cut through the neighborhood. These folks are not happy with the Road Diet because it slows them down in their travels to other areas.<br />
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Northridge West, the NC in which the entire road configuration is located, has a competing interest. These are the people that live on the street and in the local community. Not many people wish for a faster noisier street in front of their houses or near their schools. Not many people wish to compete with cut through traffic to get to their homes. Not surprisingly about 78% of the people living in the community support the calmer safer street. 98% of the residents who live in homes with frontages on Wilbur support the new road diet.<br />
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Because of these obvious competing interests and simply for the fact that each board has different bylaws and number of members, the votes should be tallied as separate boards. Yet, when we look at the make up of both boards, we find that the majority of the combined board lives in Porter Ranch. In fact technically Northridge West Neighborhood Council meets in Porter Ranch boundaries. This gives the impression of a distinct bias.<br />
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<div class="ii gt" id=":1gw"><div id=":1gx"><div></div><div></div><blockquote><div style="color: black;">Dear Stakeholders:</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
Please join Northridge West and Porter Ranch Neighborhood Councils on Tuesday night March 15, 2011 at Nobel Middle School (9950 Tampa Avenue Northridge, CA 91324) between 6:30pm to 8:30 pm for a joint town hall meeting to review and vote on the latest LADOT Wilbur Avenue Road Diet striping plan.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
The meeting will be structured in the following manner: </div><div style="color: black;"><br />
1) Pledge of Allegiance – by LAPD<br />
2) Introductions - CD12 (Five minutes)<br />
3) Location: LAUSD - Nobel Middle School<br />
4) Date: March 15, 2011<br />
5) Time: 6:30pm to 8:30pm</div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="color: black;">6) LADOT will present the new official revised Wilbur Avenue road diet plan to both the PRNC & NWNC councils (Twenty five minute allotment)</div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="color: black;">7) A brief Question and Answer will follow between LADOT and PRNC/NWNC councils (Given the limited time constraints each board member will be given the opportunity to ask one question. Only after each board member has asked their question will a board member be offered the opportunity to ask a second question) (Thirty minute allotment)</div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="color: black;">8) One individual in support and One individual in opposition of the revised LADOT Wilbur Avenue road diet plan will be offered four (4) minutes to present a supportive and opposition prospective of the new striping plan (Eight minutes)</div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="color: black;">9) Public comment – any individual that wishes to speak will be required to submit a speaker card and will be given 1 or 2 minutes (Depended on number of speakers) to speak on the LADOT plan presented – every effort will be made within the time limitations (6:30pm to 8:30pm)to ensure every individual has an opportunity to speak (Thirty seven minute allotment)</div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="color: black;">10) At 8:15pm a cumulative write in vote from the combined Northridge West and Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council boards will be taken<b> (Board members names will not be divulged at the meeting but will be on their voting cards for verification and recording purposes – Board members need not feel intimidated)</b> (Five minute allotment)</div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="color: black;">11) A For, Against, Abstain vote for the revised LADOT plan will be taken and tallied up of the combined Northridge West and Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council boards (Ten minute allotment)</div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="color: black;">12) The tallied votes will then be presented to the combined Northridge West and Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council boards and forwarded onto Councilmen Grieg Smith</div><div style="color: black;">Please join us as we move forward with the Wilbur Avenue road diet striping plan. Thank you for your participation. </div></blockquote><br />
<blockquote><div style="color: black;"></div><div style="color: black;"></div><div>Tom Johnson</div><div style="color: black;"></div><div>President</div><br />
<div style="color: black;"></div><div>Northridge West Neighborhood Council</div></blockquote><span style="color: #888888;"> </span></div></div>Safe Streets Northridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08101253359844352877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141869576631967681.post-4779490862833198152011-03-10T01:19:00.000-08:002011-03-11T11:43:30.566-08:00Community Walk! Join US!<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Join us and walk to the </b></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>WILBUR VOTE meeting!</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Nobel Jr. High</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>6pm-8:30pm Tuesday, March 15th</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>This is the FINAL vote on the fate of Wilbur and the fate of the neighborhood. Don't miss it! </b></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We are asking for everyone to please consider the amount of folks from Porter Ranch who will be attending this meeting by automobile. Let's give them our parking spots and have a good ole' walk through our neighborhood. No one cares if you are FOR or AGAINST the proposed plan. We just want the neighborhood to have a VOICE in this process.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Why the short notice?? </span></b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Despite the <b>howls of disapproval</b> by the both <b>PRO and ANTI Road Diet</b> members of the audience at the March 8th Northridge West Neighborhood council meeting, President Tom Johnson pushed through a motion to announce the meeting with just 6 days of time to get the word out. Many in the audience emphatically concurred that 2 weeks notice is desired but those pleas were ultimately denied by the president and the board. The board first voted 6-6 on the motion having doubts about giving less than a week's notice get the word out... but after more exchange with President Tom Johnson insisting on the short notice provision the motion was passed upon the second vote 7-5. As notified on March 9th indeed, THEY GAVE THE COMMUNITY 6 DAYS.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Let's celebrate this short notice with a walk through this beautiful neighborhood and the hope of preserving it no matter your opinion of the road diet. The community deserves a voice!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
. <span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>JOIN THE COMMUNITY WALK! </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">CHECK THIS MAP FOR ROUTE AND START POINTS</span><br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="600" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=214857822882066845320.00049e1c9e933c46528cb&ll=34.24622,-118.548102&spn=0.021285,0.018239&z=15&output=embed" width="425"></iframe><br />
<small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=214857822882066845320.00049e1c9e933c46528cb&ll=34.24622,-118.548102&spn=0.021285,0.018239&z=15&source=embed" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">WILBUR COMMUNITY WALK! JOIN US!!</a> in a larger map</small><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-hBJTVBLhVLk/TXp4v86ok2I/AAAAAAAAABQ/c6tMzufuloc/s1600/Screen-shot-2011-03-11-at-11.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-hBJTVBLhVLk/TXp4v86ok2I/AAAAAAAAABQ/c6tMzufuloc/s1600/Screen-shot-2011-03-11-at-11.10.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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</div></span></span></span>Safe Streets Northridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08101253359844352877noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141869576631967681.post-41382471259997672202011-02-25T11:04:00.000-08:002011-03-10T18:55:43.570-08:00Proposed Alternate Plans for Wilbur Ave.<span style="font-size: x-large;">Issues with the Wilbur Road Diet and 2 proposeds solutions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Back ups during school drop off.</b></span><br />
There is no question that back up occurs for folks heading south from Chatsworth to Devonshire. The dispute is over how much it's backing up and what to do to solve it. The peak of the back up according to an early study by the LADOT and a later study by Paul Kirk is happening between 7:40AMish and 7:55AMish and is a result of door to door school drop off traffic. This kind of problem is not new, school drop off is a common traffic issue in many neighborhoods and indeed occurred under the old configuration. But with the road diet there is a stack up in the south bound direction coming from the Porter Ranch and Northern areas with clogging back towards Chatsworth. For the remainder of the day, the result has been civilized flow of small amounts of cars and then during the evening potentially another period of back up - to knowledge no one has done a count in the evenings. Eventually, it has been suggested, non local traffic will subside as people choose higher volume streets like Reseda or Tampa to commute through. However other people have suggested those streets are backed up too. <br />
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<b>A Compromise. 4 Lanes to Devonshire from Chatsworth.</b><br />
The LADOT has presented a design to be voted on next March 15th. As I will show below, this design is ok except for one particularly dangerous merge scenario. To relieve the school drop off back up, I am proposing a 4 lane Chatsworth to Devonshire solution while preserving the existing road diet as is, south of Devonshire. The road diet has enabled the creation of a contiguous third lane across the entire stretch. It is vital and used for turning in and out of street locked communities the length of the road diet. It is this lane and the bicycle lanes make for a more civilized flow of traffic and a more people friendly neighborhood. With 3 schools in the area and CSUN, we need civility more than we need speeding and I truly believe that the school drop off issue can be solved in other ways, one of which is through a program called Safe Routes to School.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Wilbur Working Group Ad-Hoc Committee</b></span><br />
Though barred as a petitioned member of the group from the first meeting by the councilman's office, I was allowed to represent the people living on Wilbur during the second and third meetings plus an additional one on one meeting with Mitch Englander to discuss the alternate proposal.<br />
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During my time on the Wilbur Working Group Ad-Hoc committee, possible solutions to the "school drop off" back up issues were explored. The school drop off mayhem causes exit issues for the Belcourt and Ridgegate communities just north of Devonshire. Unfortunately for these folks, the layout of their community makes exiting a bit more difficult due to a one exit configuration. No matter the configuration of Wilbur this seems an issue. A look at Google maps shows the problem:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b8eJAM0Dvsw/TWf372QWsOI/AAAAAAAAAAw/9Lu3JlfO1-M/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-02-25+at+10.40.54+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="372" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b8eJAM0Dvsw/TWf372QWsOI/AAAAAAAAAAw/9Lu3JlfO1-M/s400/Screen+shot+2011-02-25+at+10.40.54+AM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Only one functioning exit exists for Belcourt at this time. The emergency gate is located next to the baseball field. Perhaps this gate should be opened and made a full time additional exit.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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Ridgegate gated community suffers the same one exit problem:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8BGiZ0SjVWk/TWf47x6VYNI/AAAAAAAAAA0/e88TjZRd7CE/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-02-25+at+10.41.14+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="359" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8BGiZ0SjVWk/TWf47x6VYNI/AAAAAAAAAA0/e88TjZRd7CE/s400/Screen+shot+2011-02-25+at+10.41.14+AM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ridgegate Gated community has one functioning exit and one emergency exit. Opening the emergency exit and making it full time functional has been discussed at the Wilbur working group. It would seem that no matter the layout of Wilbur, this would be a good idea.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Rush to Judgement:</b></span><br />
Generally speaking everyone at the working group, though most completely opposed the traffic calming of Wilbur, were open to ideas. Unfortunately the one plan offered by the LADOT and rushed through by the committee creates an induced drag race scenario beginning at the Devonshire light heading south to Mayall. I'm referring to a 45mph rated lane merge that repeats all of the issues that made the bottleneck at Dearborn to the south a deadly problem. If the boards vote for this configuration statistics show that serious accidents will become an issue at the bottleneck. <br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Current LADOT Proposed design - a 45 mph lane merge:</b></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sw9N34VfhRA/TWf7qMgwB3I/AAAAAAAAABA/Dav5J1l_UdQ/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-02-24+at+7.31.59+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sw9N34VfhRA/TWf7qMgwB3I/AAAAAAAAABA/Dav5J1l_UdQ/s640/Screen+shot+2011-02-24+at+7.31.59+PM.png" width="444" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This 45mph rated lane merge is being rushed through by the Wilbur Working group. Anyone can see that as cars pile up at the light at devonshire south, a green light would effectively be the start of a drag race that culminates at Mayall. 185 residents in the area have signed petitions stating they want a crosswalk at Mayall. With this proposed design, the intersection of Mayall would become a FINISH LINE for a drag race.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Alternate Proposed solution to relieve Belcourt and Ridgegate exit issues:</b></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CFqVHaDYHmI/TWf6iXJhcQI/AAAAAAAAAA4/rYNTDTioiPM/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-02-25+at+10.30.18+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CFqVHaDYHmI/TWf6iXJhcQI/AAAAAAAAAA4/rYNTDTioiPM/s640/Screen+shot+2011-02-25+at+10.30.18+AM.png" width="556" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keep clear markings and 4 lane configuration would appease the desires of the Belcourt and Ridgegate communities. This design would require 10' width lanes which the LADOT is authorized but is loathe to implement.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>We Need a Crosswalk NOT a finishline!</b></span><br />
Last month the Northridge West Neighborhood Council voted to support a "no cost" crosswalk at Mayall timed with the re-striping. If the street crews are going to be out there re-striping, putting in a crosswalk in conjunction with that re-striping will not cost much more if anything at all. This would be a huge improvement for the folks along Tuba Crebs and LeMarsh who live in a street locked community and who wish to cross the street safely on a walk through the neighborhood. <br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Alternate Proposed solution (cont'd)</b></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V7K5-2sXu2Y/TWf7GZOAz1I/AAAAAAAAAA8/AmxP2Aniduo/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-02-25+at+10.29.59+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="614" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V7K5-2sXu2Y/TWf7GZOAz1I/AAAAAAAAAA8/AmxP2Aniduo/s640/Screen+shot+2011-02-25+at+10.29.59+AM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rather than the 45moh rated proposed merge that the LADOT has suggested for Devonshire south to Mayall, this design proposes Keep Clear markings, and a crosswalk at Mayall.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Safe Streets Northridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08101253359844352877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141869576631967681.post-25911843087315505532011-02-24T15:44:00.000-08:002011-02-24T18:06:17.052-08:00Open Letter to NWNC President Tom Johnson, Councilman Smith and PRNC President Mel Mitchel<div><br />
Re: The Joint Porter Ranch / Northridge West Neighborhood Council Vote on Wilbur Ave. Traffic configuration.<br />
<br />
Mr. President, I charge that the process you, Councilman Greig Smith and Porter Ranch President Mel Mitchel have outlined is tantamount to the smokey backroom political environment of years, thankfully, long gone and therefore should be revised immediately. <br />
<br />
In a recent letter to me President Johnson, You have claimed that our brave soldiers died fighting for the right to vote without "intimidation" and in private. <br />
<br />
I agree.<br />
<br />
BUT, You are forgetting that as Neighborhood Council members, WE are the GOVERNMENT representing the people. Those soldiers you speak of fought and died for the rights of the people to know what their representatives are doing, not the rights of the government to hide their vote from the people they are accountable to. <b>We are elected board members. We all took an oath to protect the best interests of our neighborhood.</b> Being a voting representative in a democratic system can certainly be a scary venture at times, but people depend on us as their elected representatives to have the courage and conviction to vote publicly and with accountability just as we depend on our city, state, and national representatives to have the courage to vote publicly. In fact we demand it of them. Our soldiers, our forefathers and founding fathers fought hard and many many many people far braver than you and I died so that the government could be more transparent and more accountable to the people it serves. They certainly did not die so the government can hold a third world dictator style secret vote. The least we could do is show some courage and responsibility for our choices that affect the public safety and treasure.<br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>This vote is perhaps the single most important vote the neighborhood council will make for years to come. Lets not blow this by shrouding it in mystery.</b><br />
<br />
I know I will make my vote public even in the face of the many people present who will not like my vote. <b>Lurking among the people opposed to the road diet are the ones who viciously race through the bike lanes in the morning with no care for the neighborhood, the system and the rule of law.</b> Who is actually being intimidated here? If I can handle it, so can you and everyone else among us who represent the people of NORTHRIDGE West.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>President Johnson I greatly respect you and I greatly appreciate what you do</b> but I humbly reserve the right to openly criticize <wbr></wbr>this proposed process and your defense of it<wbr></wbr>. You are our President, you should be working on behalf of OUR neigh<wbr></wbr>borhood and fighting for trans<wbr></wbr>parency and fairness. THAT privilege is what people are fighting and dieing for right now in Africa and the Middle East as they rise up against their own secretive and oppressive governments. They look to us for inspiration. Let us not forget that this is America, land of the FREE and home of the BRAVE. </div><div><br />
<br />
<br />
<ul><li><b>I ask that each board member's vote be made public and be held accountable to the public they serve.</b></li>
</ul><b><br />
</b></div><div><ul><li><b>I ask that each board vote separately on the matter not as a combined vote. Porter Ranch has it's interests, the people you, myself, and the rest of the board serve have theirs.</b></li>
</ul><b><br />
</b><br />
<ul><li><b>I ask that before this meeting is announced that the rules are made clear as to how the vote will be tallied. </b></li>
</ul><b><br />
</b><br />
<ul><li><b>I ask that the definition of a majority vote is made clear.</b></li>
</ul><b><br />
</b><br />
<ul><li><b>I ask that at least 3 weeks public notice be given to constituents before the meeting and that the process is completely defined, open, fair, transparent and all clarified in the meeting announcement.</b></li>
</ul></div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div>-don ward</div><div>Northridge West Neighborhood Council</div>Safe Streets Northridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08101253359844352877noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141869576631967681.post-90967064801695556792011-02-24T12:35:00.000-08:002011-03-06T17:36:20.551-08:00Livable Streets Video a must see lesson for neighborhoods across the ValleyRevisiting Donald Appleyard's Livable Streets:<br />
<br />
<object height="293" width="521"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=16399180&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=9086c0&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=16399180&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=9086c0&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="521" height="293"></embed></object>Safe Streets Northridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08101253359844352877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141869576631967681.post-83885850361423402632011-02-22T16:55:00.000-08:002011-03-11T11:37:33.458-08:00About the Wilbur Avenue Road Diet.There is a lot of talk around the neighborhood regarding the new striping of Wilbur Ave. on the 2 mile stretch between Chatsworth and Nordhoff St. Many people who have a stake in the neighborhood were bewildered to see the appearance of two wide bike lanes, a contiguous center turning lane, and the disappearance of 2 travel lanes. This configuration is known as a Road Diet and it is a federally approved design engineered to "calm" traffic. You can read the official federal explanation <a href="http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safety/humanfac/04082/index.cfm">here</a>, and the Wikipedia entry <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_diet">here</a>.<br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>Many people have asked why did Wilbur need a Road Diet? </b><br />
<br />
The answer relates to many issues. But the biggest reason is embedded in the fight in 2009 to save the crosswalks at Prairie and Superior. The LADOT had posted signage stating that they were going to remove them. But the residents revolted against that idea. Paul Kirk, collected 600+ petition signatures stating that the residents WANT their crosswalks! This prompted the LADOT to respond by making Wilbur a safe street to cross. Be engineering a reduction in average speed, the road diet has made it safer to cross.<br />
<br />
Average speeds along the road that under the old 4 lane configuration <i>typically</i> broke the 40mph speed limit - a limit which one could argue is quite high for a residential area with 3 schools within a block or two of the street. With non peak hour traffic speeds easily reaching 60, 70 even 80mph the situation was quite dangerous for people pulling in and out of their driveways, for people crossing at marked and unmarked crosswalks and for the drivers negotiating the natural bottlenecks that occur at Plummer and Dearborn.<br />
<br />
For the residents of the area, everyone knows just how typical it was to see serious collisions at the major cross streets such as Plummer, Lassen and Dearborn. As a long time resident, I've personally witnessed many over the years and have myself experienced a car rear ending my vehicle with such force that it launched the car up the curb and onto the front yard of our house. This was due to a speeder who lost focus and did not recognize that our vehicle was in the process of slowing and signaling a turn into our driveway. From talking with neighbors I know my experience is not rare.<br />
<br />
<b>Traffic Collision Stats</b><br />
<br />
According to Alex Thompson, LAPD Bike Task Force member and <a href="http://www.bikesidela.org/">Bikeside</a> chairman, the CHP's <a href="http://iswitrs.chp.ca.gov/Reports/jsp/userLogin.jsp">SWITRS</a> database reports 200+ serious collisions and 5 deaths along that stretch of Wilbur from 2000-2008. This is simply unacceptable for any street let alone a residential one such as Wilbur Ave.<br />
<br />
Since the implementation of the Road Diet last September, the flow of traffic has become much more civilized. It is now less likely that speeders reach 50mph as the single lane configuration has done it's job of inspiring drivers to slow down. The psychological impact of the lane constraint has proven to calm drivers.<br />
<br />
<b><br />
Benefits</b> <b>of the Road Diet.</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>Home values go up in neighborhoods with calm people friendly streets.</b> Calm civilized traffic makes for a deterrent to those who would use the street as their "cut through" street or "Speedway" as LA Times columnist and Porter Ranch resident Sandy Banks recently <a href="http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safety/humanfac/04082/index.cfm">referred to it as.</a> Reduced cut through traffic improves the quality of life for local residents. As pollution and noise decline people come out of their homes, go for walks, enjoy their neighborhood more...<br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>Better neighborhood connectivity occurs when people feel like they can cross the street safely.</b> In the case of the road diet, cars are still reaching speeds above the 40mph limit, however now there are only 2 travel lanes to negotiate rather than 4.<br />
<br />
<b>Safe routes to schools. </b>With the newly re-striped and better visible crosswalks at Prairie and Superior, cars are more likely to yield to pedestrians many of which are simply looking for a way to walk to the area schools. Remember the days when kids used to walk, bike and skateboard to school? I must be old.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Yes. There is back up.</b><br />
<br />
According to two separate counts there is no denying that back up occurs. The counts done by the LADOT immediately after the Road Diet's implementation showed that during a 15 minute period from approximately 7:35-7:51AM the traffic line at the Devonshire south light backs up towards Chatsworth. This is due to Nobel Middle School drop off. A second count was done recently that shows the same scenario occurring. This is an issue that is causing parents frustration and to choose alternate routes to school. The fact is, that there was always back up and traffic has always been unruly during school drop off. A simple solution would be for parents to drop their kids off a few blocks from school or even encourage their kids to bike to school. After all, there are brand new bike lanes to be used. Still, the desire is strong to drive kids right up to the school and it is a hard fight to convince them otherwise. The days of parents being able to brag to their kids about walking six miles in the snow uphill in both directions are long gone. This generation will have no such stories. Instead, this generation may actually brag about how difficult it was to avoid the alarming obesity trend that is befalling our nation.<br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>The Wilbur Working Group Ad-Hoc Committee.</b><br />
<br />
Councilman Greig Smith, in an effort to alleviate complaints from people living to the North of the road diet, has set up the Wilbur Ave. Working Group Ad-Hoc Committee. This committee was to be comprised of 3 members from Northridge West Neighborhood Council and Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council. Each of the members were to be appointed by each NC's president. Unfortunately for the residents of Wilbur Ave, NONE of them were included as a voice in the process and only one person living south of Devonshire where 80% of the road diet exists, was included on the committee. Recognizing that imbalance I sought to alert the residents of the working group and petitioned to be included on the committee as a representative of the residents who actually live on the street. Shouldn't they have a say in this? As it turns out, I gathered 55 signatures from nearly every home I could get an answer from one Sunday afternoon. I brought the signatures to the councilman's office where I was flatly denied inclusion on the committee by Smith Chief of Staff and council candidate Mitch Englander. I did my best to plead the case that the residents on the street should have a say in the matter and at every turn of the conversation it was obvious that Smith's office had no intention of letting me in.<br />
<br />
I left the office dismayed, wondering what the next step was. Fortunately, I was notified by Smith's office that I would be allowed to attend the second and third meetings but by then the design was already decided upon. <br />
<br />
As I found out in the second of the 3 (known) committee meetings, the revised "compromise" plan presented by the LADOT based on feed back from the 1st meeting included a <b>painted merge rated for speeds of 45mph that culminates at Mayall south of Devonshire.</b> It was quite obvious to myself and Paul Kirk - the only other member of the committee who lives south of Devonshire that this merge presents a similar issue that the road diet solved for the bottle necks at Dearborn and Plummer both sites of numerous high speed crashes over the years... Only with the newly proposed bottleneck the drag race starts with the green light at Devonshire, the finish line being the unmarked crosswalk at Mayall. Pedestrians at Mayall who wish to cross, will have to deal with distracted drivers speeding towards them and looking to their left mirrors as they negotiate their place in line before the upcoming lane merge. <b> </b><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>We need a crosswalk not a finish line!</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AzLJlu8Fzg8/TWci1Ilm-2I/AAAAAAAAAAs/C3Gebsr-2Ys/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-02-24+at+7.31.59+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AzLJlu8Fzg8/TWci1Ilm-2I/AAAAAAAAAAs/C3Gebsr-2Ys/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-02-24+at+7.31.59+PM.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proposed 45mph rated merge from Devonshire heading south to Mayall. Unacceptable! Any sane person can visualize the drag race scenario that will play out at every green light happening at Devonshire south.... Cars racing to get ahead of each other right up to the Mayall intersection. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
The final two meetings of the Wilbur Working Group Ad-Hoc committee were basically back and forth talk sessions that lead to no changes what so ever to the proposed design. It was frustrating not to get answers from the LADOT about the traffic counts and the cost of the re-design itself. Every time I attempted to corner an answer from the LADOT about the cost, Mitch Englander interrupted and changed the topic. At one point Englander answered "It's within budget" to which I asked "What is the budget?" to which Englander replied, "it is not known."<br />
<br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>The final vote.</b><br />
<br />
From the beginning, the process outlined by Councilman Smith was never clearly defined. How exactly was the voting process to occur between the two Neighborhood Councils? Would it be a cumulative vote or would each board vote separately? What if there was a tie? Where would the vote be held? NONE of these questions are answered as of yet. There have been proposals to hold the meeting at the Porter Ranch neighborhood council... but why should a matter that occurs completely within the Northridge West district be decided in Porter Ranch? Fortunately that idea was discarded and things are looking like they will be held at Nobel Middle School.... The next issue is whether this is a joint cumulative vote or will each board vote on it's own. As we speak, the powers that be are pushing for a joint vote. I ask... Why? Porter Ranch has completely different interests in this matter than Northridge West does.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Porter Ranch Interests - MORE Cut through streets</b><br />
<br />
It is no secret, Porter Ranch needs traffic outlet channels. It is a relatively new and growing development and with all the new residents there is great pressure to open up streets like Wilbur to MORE cut through traffic. But that degrades the neighborhood that has existed intact for decades with more and more car traffic. We've all seen streets in the valley which not long ago had a neighborhood character to them only to become shut off homes, walled off with side entrances becoming main entrances as residents retreat from their polluted noisy front yards. It's sad to see neighborhoods carved away by traffic.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Looming in the Future - Connecting Wilbur North to Wilbur South via an at grade track crossing at Parthenia. </b><br />
<br />
Wilbur is the last stand and the Road Diet has helped to cement the neighborhood together. Looming in the future? An at grade crossing that will connect Wilbur South with Wilbur North. The plans have been designed but are currently shelved due to budget constraints. But beware, train tracks are under different jurisdictions and the money can pop up at any time. Once the street is connected, Wilbur will become a major thoroughfare across the valley. Expect Wilbur traffic to double and triple. At that point the neighborhood will cease to exist, cut in half and crusted at the seems by constant traffic. Home values will drop through out the neighborhood not just for the residents who live on the street. The existence and preservation of the road diet creates a less than feasible scenario making the at grade crossing less likely to become a reality.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><br />
</b>Safe Streets Northridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08101253359844352877noreply@blogger.com20