Concerned citizens launch petition for better sidewalks

Concerned citizens for better sidewalks launch a petition drive. With public comment at the Neighborhood Leaders Council Feb. 27:

Gerry Meenaghan (Southeast Neighbors): Thanks for hosting this public comment for the Neighborhood Leaders Council.

I’m Gerry Meenaghan. I’m in the SEN neighborhood and full disclosure, I am a member of some neighborhood association boards and city committees, but I am tonight representing none of those. Rather I’m representing a group of concerned citizens for better sidewalks in Eugene and I would like to read a proclamation from that group and follow up with next steps. And the proclamation reads:

[00:00:48] Our city government knows the importance of sidewalks:

[00:00:52] ‘Safe sidewalks benefit pedestrians, people in wheelchairs, joggers, and others who use sidewalks to travel around town. Safe, clean and hazard-free sidewalks promote mobility and livability for the citizens of Eugene. The community and citizens benefit from having pedestrian-friendly sidewalks and driveway approaches as part of the city’s overall transportation system.’

[00:01:11] Sadly, we residents of Eugene find that our sidewalks are clearly not safe, clean, and hazard-free. Many are in poor and deteriorating condition and pose a significant risk for tripping and falling.

[00:01:24] We call on city leaders to:

• Develop a plan to substantially improve the condition of Eugene sidewalks over the next 10 years.
• Devise a stable, adequate, and equitable funding mechanism for ongoing sidewalk repair.

[00:01:37] We agree that:

• 100% of Eugene residents are pedestrians some of the time; everyone uses our sidewalks!
• Many depend on walking to meet basic needs because of age, ability, and to save money.
• Walking is an important component of our health and neighborhood life. Walking supports our local economy.
• Many home and business owners in our neighborhoods cannot afford to repair their sidewalks. It’s expensive!
• Sidewalks are transportation infrastructure just like streets and bike paths.
• There does not appear to be an effective plan for fixing the sidewalks. Indeed, they are steadily getting worse.

[00:02:10] We urgently call on city leaders to develop a long-term funding mechanism to fix Eugene’s sidewalks. (End proclamation.)

[00:02:19] So we will (this group of concerned citizens) be reaching out to neighborhood association leaders and including the NLC co-chairs in coming days and asking folks to read and sign on to this proclamation and movement using a petition medium such as Change.org.

[00:02:39] And we’ll appreciate your support and because I know from previous NLC meetings that this is something that is a concern of many neighborhood associations and neighborhood leaders and citizens of the city,

[00:02:55] Thanks for your time and for listening.

[00:02:57] John Q: The petition is available on Change.org: It’s titled ‘Make Eugene Sidewalks Safe, Clean, and Hazard-Free.’