• UPDATE: I would like to point out that the Mayor was able to attend a Sidewalk Stompers Event on Monday, May 18th.  Unfortunately, she couldn't find the time to meet and address the concerns of almost 1,500 citizens of Tampa.  https://www.facebook.com/sidewalkstompers/

I am revising this petition slightly to include the Mayor and, more importantly, to reaffirm our disappointment with the City Council’s handling of this issue after last night's farce of a "meeting."  I hope that you will read and share.

Regardless of where someone stands on the El Prado redesign, the larger problem is that neither the Mayor nor members of the City Council have been willing to meaningfully engage with their constituents or respond to legitimate concerns. Reasonable people can disagree on policy, but elected officials should at least extend the courtesy of communication and dialogue with the residents they represent.  SILENCE HAS ONLY EXACERBATED THIS SITUATION.  Many residents feel dismissed and ignored throughout this process. Instead of direct engagement from our elected leaders, we have often been directed to consultants and City staff who do not live in Tampa and who cannot truly represent the concerns of our city.  A woman in attendance last night argued that the City had made "enough" presentations.  I would respectfully argue that a presentation made four years ago is insufficient and amateur for a city of our size.  

Mayor Jane Castor,  whom many residents accurately now refer to as “One-Lane Jane”, along with Council members such as Carlson and Hurtak, will continue to seek the public’s trust and votes for higher office. If they are unwilling to respond to constituents or provide leadership on issues that directly affect our neighborhoods and quality of life, residents have every right to question what kind of leadership they would bring to even larger roles.  Mayor Castor has been a tremendous disappointment to those of us who voted for her. Even if the City Council Members are trying to shield themselves by placing the blame on her (and the buck-or 7 million bucks-ultimately does fall to her), they should at least have the backbone to respond when their constituents reach out.  

Our community deserves elected officials who will listen, communicate, and engage respectfully with the people they serve. I will work as hard as possible to support leaders who believe that responsiveness, transparency, and accountability to constituents are fundamental responsibilities of public service, and that clearly excludes Castor, Carlson, Hurtak, Clendenin, Maniscalco, et. al. 

As a lifelong resident of Tampa, I'm compelled to voice my deep concerns and disappointment with our City Council's handling of the El Prado Redesign Project. Despite nearly 1,000 constituents raising alarms about the current plans, there has been an alarming silence from our elected representatives. This is not just a matter of policy disagreement but a breakdown of democratic representation.

This petition is to formally express our dissatisfaction with the members of the City Council of Tampa for their failure to adequately consider and address the expressed concerns of their constituents and the affected community. Our representatives should reflect the will and the voice of the people who elected them. This is critical because the stakes in this community project are high.

The mayor’s plan for the redesign, rooted in outdated data, lacks context and fails to serve the best interests of Tampa as a whole. A decision of this magnitude needs current and relevant data and consideration of all voices within the community, an oversight that seems evident in the present proposal. Moreover, the lack of engagement and response to constituents' concerns reflects a larger issue of transparency and accountability within our local government.

It is essential that Tampa moves forward with projects that are grounded in both present-day realities and the collective interest of its residents. While we may hold different viewpoints, the voice of the community must not be disregarded. This is our opportunity to demand better leadership and representation that truly listens to and respects its constituents.

I urge you to join me in this effort to hold our City Council accountable. Together, we can push for a more inclusive and thoughtful approach to the development of our neighborhoods. Sign this petition to demand the necessary change in our local governance and ensure that Tampa's future is built on a foundation of genuine public input and oversight.  

Two Notes:

1. In addition, the use of sharrow lanes at some of the most dangerous spots (i.e., Dale Mabry & MacDill) as included in the Mayor's proposal, increase injuries.  (See The effect of sharrows, painted bicycle lanes and physically protected paths on the severity of bicycle injuries caused by motor vehicles. Safety, 2(4), 26.) and the statement that there is no cost specifically attributable to the redesign is false!
2. No one is opposed to reducing speed or improving safety on El Prado—no one. The issue is that the Mayor’s proposal is not a viable or practical solution for a city that already struggles with traffic congestion and inadequate infrastructure. This is an example of an idea that may have sounded good in concept a few years ago but fails in practice and would ultimately have a negative impact on our community...and not improve safety.  See above-sharrow lanes are dangerous!