Did you know the Move Seattle levy will build a road safety project at every single public school in the city? It’s true! And that’s just one example of a community-generated idea in the nine-year transportation levy.
But boosting Safe Routes to School funds in the levy plan is only effective if we then go and pass it. That’s why Feet First, Seattle Neighborhood Greenways, Cascade Bicycle Club and the Let’s Move Seattle campaign are holding a community walk in Greenwood today to highlight safety problems in the neighborhood and demonstrate how passing Move Seattle will help keep everyone safe.
Meet at Greenwood Elementary at 2:45 p.m. (walk starts at 3). Walk will end at Razzi’s Pizzeria, where you can stay and help out at a phone bank if you want to do even more.
Because if our neighborhood streets are safe for children, they are safe for everyone else, too.
Details from Feet First:
Who: Feet First, Let’s Move Seattle, Greenwood Phinney Greenways, Cascade Bicycle Club
What: Community walk with children, elders and a chicken to highlight neighborhood improvements funded by the Move Seattle Levy. How do children, elders — and a chicken — safely cross the road and what happens when the sidewalk ends? Interview the chicken to find out.
When: Tuesday, Month Oct, 27, 2:45 Leave by 3:00
Where: Greenwood Elementary School, 144 NW 80th St, Seattle, WA 98117
Details:
2:45 p.m. Gather at Greenwood Elementary School (school bell time 2:50). Distribute signs and vests.
3:00 p.m. Leave school for a walk around the neighborhood waving signs, and stopping at key problem spots to “ask the children……” about how the levy will help.
4:30 p.m. Final destination and Chicken interview Razzi’s Pizzeria, 8523 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103
Comments
4 responses to “Today: Join a community walk in Greenwood for Move Seattle”
Whether people march through Greenwood or not, it almost certain that the Move Seattle levy will pass by a large majority because people are sick of congestion and want more transportation options.
However, it should give significant pause that moderate organizations like the League of Women voters and the Municipal League are opposed to this measure not because they don’t recognize the need or they are organizations that are philosophically opposed to new taxes but rather because the city has a poor track record on delivering on promises for past levies and Move Seattle has insufficient oversight to expect anything different.
When Mr Fucoloro states “Did you know the Move Seattle levy will build a road safety project at every single public school in the city? It’s true”, he is not quite telling the truth. Nobody knows what will be done with the levy or when, and when stuff is done we will not know whether it has been done economically. Based on past track records, it is likely that only about 2/3 of desired projects will be accomplished. That is better than nothing, but it is a pity that Seattle has missed an opportunity to improve the way it configures and manages its large transportation levys, especially since we will have to wait another 9 years to have another go.
They are quite clear in the levy language that a Safe Routes to School project will be constructed at every public school in the city. They are also clear that the lowest-income schools will get priority first.
If you don’t believe the city, then I don’t think any levy would satiate your mistrust. But it’s up to us to keep the city honest for the next nine years, as with any funding we provide. If Move Seattle passes, I expect a Safe Routes to School project at every school, and folks are gonna raise hell if it doesn’t happen.
Same goes for the 50 miles of protected bike lanes, 60 miles of neighborhood greenways, 750 curb ramps and crossing improvements, at least 150 blocks of sidewalks (though a recent announcement says the city hopes to stretch this to 250 by using lower-cost materials), and 180 lane miles of repaved busy streets.
And the faster buses. And… well, you get the point.
Then why does a moderate organization like the Municipal League and a pretty progressive organization like the League of Women Voters oppose the measure? I think it is pretty ridiculous of you to equate a position held by those organizations with level of distrust in government that would not be satisfied by any levy. In fact if you read their detailed position statements, they both explain what is wrong with the specifics of this levy.
Hey William – there are official Citizen Oversight Committees that you can join to oversee the spending! Get involved!