Make the Jungle Trail Safe - Update #1

Thanks to all for your support of this petition. In just one week we were able to obtain over 50 signatures which according to change.org less than 15% of all petitions are able to achieve. That says that this is an issue people like us care about. Over the past several months I have met with County Commissioner Joe Flescher and Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Director Phil Matson to discuss in detail the issues and solution to the JT's woes (let me know if you want a copy of the presentation). I am encouraged by both of their feedback and they have made some excellent suggestions. Phil Matson in particular has been very supportive and remarked that he thought this was a solution that all interested parties could get behind. The first step in the process will be to get the issue on the agenda of the bi-monthly MPO meeting. The April meeting agenda was packed with many controversial issues, but I am happy to report that Phil has scheduled us for the October-11 meeting when many of us return from summer up north. Please mark your calendars as it is important that we get a good showing of support at that meeting. Also be aware that there is opposition out there to the idea of limiting motor vehicle access to the JT. Last week, Indian River County Historian Ruth Stanbridge (a former county commissioner) mentioned in a negative comment on Bob Soos' Local News Magazine radio program that "and now they want to close the Jungle Trail to cars!" I have asked Bob for a chance to explain the proposal in detail hopefully sometime this week or next. Right now the biggest needs are: 1. Continue to reach out to those people you think might be able to support the petition. If we could get over 100 signatures by the end of next week that would send a strong signal to the commissioners on this issue. 2. If you know someone in Windsor please let me know as we have not had contact with anyone in that community. 3. If you have any contacts with the media, particularly the 32963 news weekly, please see if you can arrange to have them publicize this issue.