The Neighborhood Meeting-Traffic Islands

So last night was the neighborhood meeting on the traffic islands that are to go in on my street. Several long term residents of the street are angry about them and don't want to lose the parking. Several shorter term residents are happy about them and are anxious for their traffic calming possibilities. I took yesterday off work (because hey guess what, looks like I'm *not* traveling to china this year after all...gotta use up those vacation days...) and when I went in this morning, I had (for a few minutes) convinced my colleagues that the split lip was a direct result of BOB (more about him soon) and the Traffic Island meeting.

So BOB. BOB is my new nemesis. BOB is this guy who owns a house on my street. Did you notice I didn't say "lives" on my street? right. Bob is a landlord. But when they came & painted the ovals to show where the traffic islands are going to be, BOB started calling everyone in the neighborhood to get them riled up about it. Next thing I know we have a notice from the city of a meeting. Oh, yes- BOB called me. I wasn't home but returned his call, and talked to MRS. BOB. MRS BOB said "do you know anything about this?" I said YES, because I attended the neighborhood association party & spoke with a Portland planning person while there, who said our street was getting some traffic calming. MRS BOB said we don't want Islands. I said WE DO. MRS BOB said they should just lower the speed limit and put one of those white vans on the street, that will slow cars down. I said "come on, you know how fast cars drive down this street, lowering the speed limit is not going to do it, and the white van isn't around every day. MRS BOB said "actually we don't know, we live in another neighbhorhood, we have a rental." (then WHY are you calling ME????). So I get a letter from the city announcing a meeting about said Islands. Next day BOB's tenant stops me as I'm walking from my driveway (where I PARK MY CAR, maybe SHE should try it out...) and says "we're losing parking!" I say, "This will slow cars down!". there's a standoff. Okay, no standoff. But I did calmly explain to her all of the BENEFITS of a pedestrian island. She didn't seem convinced. Next day, there is a very LOUD yellow flyer in my mail slot. it says " IMPORTANT PUBLIC MEETING- If you have concerns about the loss of 6-8 parking spots per block, the hazards of 19 curbed concrete islands....come to this meeting. Project Budget is $375,000.00" and "PLEASE, PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS AND COME TO THIS VERY IMPORTANT MEETING!" Next day after that I get a light lilac flyer in my mailbox that says "Help Slow down (this street). Tired of cars speeding 40+ mph down our street? Tired of crossing your fingers as you attempt to cross the street to enjoy your neiborhood? Tired of the daily ambulance sirens and lights? Think 35 mph is too fast? Attend our neighborhood meeting to help voice your support for the Portland office of Transportation's plan to curb traffic in your neighborhood. The plan's $375,000 price tag is a small price to pay for our safety and peace "

Feeling already like a political knockdown brawl? Yuppers. I thought so too. I was certain the Yellow page came from BOB. BOB who doesn't actually live on our street. After last night's meeting, I am CERTAIN of it. There were 3 people from the city hosting the meeting. Actually, after talking extensively both after the meeting and today with one of the men from the City (Will, Mark was the other one), there was one woman (Theresa) who took over the meeting, and really, I think Will & Mark should have run the meeting. These Two guys who should have run the meeting I am CERTAIN would have done a better job. This woman took a "straw vote" to see who supported the islands on my chunk of street. Hmm...let's see: The people who were opposed were there in couples: Husband & wife. There was BOB and MRS BOB, Also BOBS TENNANT and MR BOBS TENANT. Wait a minute, how can 4 people to one residence count as 4 votes? Well they did!!! I (oh silly me...) made the suggestion we take a poll by ADDRESS- one vote per address. Lady from the city said, NO, she had gotten enough complaints from phone calls this week & from people at the meeting that night to make it clear they were not wanted on our blocks. HUH? What about the people who couldn't make it? WHY did BOB's house get 4 votes and MY HOUSE get 1 vote???? I've been in the neighborhood 5 years. That's long enough to count for something! Why did My neighbhor whose husband couldn't make it but was there with her TWO SMALL CHILDREN get no votes because she couldn't stay the whole time and BOB's house got 4 votes? Should I just have invited along all my friends to come to the meeting with me? Not very democratic if you ask me!!!

SO- the result of the meeting is that the islands are "essentially" out, but speedbumps may be the replacement. actually this is good, as it may slow traffic more- they are now called "speed tables"- and I talked with my new CITY HERO WILL today (one of the two guys as the meeting last night) extensively about our options. We may yet get both Islands and Speed Tables, but at the very least, I'm going to do everything I can to get us Speed Tables. My new HERO Will even said he would come & talk with our neighborhood if we put together a block meeting this weekend or this week. Fortunately, BOB's house is on the NEXT BLOCK. Ah...it's good to have a hero in the city. It's bad to have a bully on your block. It's unfair to have someone so frazzled running the meeting. I hope in the end they all balance out.