Thank you all for supporting this effort. I have to admit, as we get back to normal life with Arlo going back to school, healing from his surgery and being in good spirits, it's easy to fall back into complacency.
After all, we just want to move on and get back to life. I'd love to forget it all happened, but alas. Our family, and the other parents and children that were trick or treating with us that night, will never forget the horror. When I see the smile on my kids' faces, happy to be reunited and once again bickering, I know we are on the path to healing.
This update is full of "first steps", but we can't stop here:
- This petition has been sent to Mayor Arreguin, all City Council Members, the Berkeley PD, Berkeley Public Works.
- I have connected with Council Members Terry Taplin, Kate Harrison and Mark Humbert.
- It's also been sent to our local block email list, BUSD elementary PTA's, my own personal sphere and posted on FB, including the Berkeley Family & Friends Group.
- As of this writing, we have 1,186 signers. Many have left helpful comments and videos. Thank you!
- The petition and story are being picked up by local news, although the farther we are from the incident, the less interest they will show.
- I gave an interview to Berkeleyside, publishing this coming week. Hopefully they will frame the story with pressure on the city to take action.
- I have reached out to Berkeley PD via phone and email regarding the case with NO RESPONSE.
- I have been invited by Council Member Kate Harrison to speak at the Facilities & Infrastructure Committee meeting 11/15/23. (Can I keep it to 5 minutes?!)
- I am connecting with other community groups to band together efforts. If you have suggestions for connecting, please let me know! Bikes, pedestrians, dog walkers, etc.
- My kids helped me put out 25 "Slow Down" yard signs on our surrounding blocks. Unfortunately we had one disgruntled neighbor who tore down 5 of them saying we had no right. I disagree. This is for the benefit of all pedestrians, cyclists and pets alike.
I ask of you a few favors:
- Send the petition to your neighbors. Share it on social media.
- Email our Council Members and Mayor Arreguin demanding safer streets in Berkeley. Please give specific examples of problematic areas in your neighborhood, trends in bad traffic behavior and dangerous incidences. Have you or someone you know been the victim of a pedestrian traffic accident?
- Print out this Formal Request for a Traffic Calming Study in your neighborhood. This requires printing, filling out and mailing it to: Transportation Division: Traffic Engineering Unit
Attn: Traffic Calming Request
1947 Center Street, 4th Floor Berkeley, CA 94704 - Place these yard signs in areas that you feel need them.
- Share your ideas for bridging the gap between now and when the city will actually implement any structural traffic calming measures. Ie. Painting crosswalks, painting street murals in busy intersections to visually slow traffic, temporary traffic bumps, street reflectors, solar landscape lights.
Thank you again for supporting our family, but ultimately supporting all Berkeley residents. We all deserve to have safer streets to stroll.
Shannon