Hello Everyone. 

It is with a heavy heart and quite a lot of anger this evening as I type out these words, but the events today along Grand Avenue near 163rd Avenue were not acceptable.

 Residents of North Copper Canyon were essentially trapped in gridlock to leave or come into our neighborhood. Traffic coming from the northwest was stopped entirely at Deer Valley Road along the US-60. Vehicles were diverted down Deer Valley and along the frontage road to 163rd. Cars from the 60 were given precedence over local residents to access that frontage road and even try to get in the neighborhood in NCC.

In trying to leave NCC this afternoon nearly 4 hours after the accident was reported by ADOT, I witnessed backups along Williams all the way to Citrus. In trying to find an alternate route, I saw numerous cars stuck in the dirt and mud in desperation trying to avoid the traffic. When the lanes were finally reopened around 3:30pm, traffic was still slow moving for miles and coming back into the NCC neighborhood there were numerous semi trucks (freight trucks mind you, not something for a local delivery, etc.) were clearly in the mess of our local neighborhood traffic in what was an obvious attempt to circumvent some of the traffic.

NONE OF THIS IS ACCEPTABLE. NONE OF THIS IS SAFE. NONE OF THIS SHOULD BE LEGAL.

Surprise's next city council meeting is 6pm on February 20th. It's being held at City Hall. We need to show up in great numbers and show up prepared to speak. Then we continue to show up at subsequent city council meetings. We need to demand action and there is strength in numbers. It's time to mobilize and it's time to stand up for what's right. Be there and I'll see you on the inside of the council chambers.