We now have 520 signers on the petition. It is time to get the council's attention.

The mayor claims the city installed the school zone cameras because the residents requested it. I could never document how or why the cameras were installed.

The mayor also said that the city isn't going to do anything if one person complains about the program.  I have to agree.  Why would they?

It's time for an email campaign.

A single email from you to the mayor would be enough but maybe some council members would benefit from your opinion.

I've provided you with a potential email you can use and modify or you can obviously write your own. I have included the email addresses of the council and mayor.

4 council members, Jennifer Pazaruski, Christi Keith, Rosanne Tomyn and Jeff Southard never responded to my initial email requesting their position on the claims made at EdgewoodSchoolCams.com

(1) John West was on the original council that adopted the school zone camera program. I have had several lengthy interactions with him via email and in person. He believes the program is providing a service to the city. He says there aren't enough police officers to enforce the school zone speed limits. He was on the planning commission with me for several years.

(2) Erica Buckley also believes the program is providing a service.

(3) Jason Ramirez seems to be common sense and wondered why, if the purpose was to slow people down, the city is still writing infractions after 6 years. He commented there might be a different way to handle it.

(4) Jennifer Pazaruski commented at a meeting that she believed the program was worthwhile, and that children are riding in cars even if they aren't walking.

(5) Jeff Southard commented at a meeting that 77% of the infractions written were to people who didn't live in the city. 

(6) I don't recall Rosanne Tomyn commenting at any meetings but she did respond to a second email I sent saying I should keep dealing with the Mayor.

(7) I don't recall Christi Keith commenting.

(8) Mayor Olson has responded to every phone call, text and email I have sent. We have had more than 5 meetings or phone calls that lasted over 30 minutes.

Council members Buckley and Keith are up for reelection this year.

Council members West and Tomyn will not run again due to term limits.

If you choose to compose your own please be respectful.

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I am writing to you today regarding the school zone photo enforcement program in Edgewood.

It has come to my attention that many of the claims being made on the City of Edgewood website seem disingenuous at best.

• The city claims, for instance, that funds will only be used for safety programs but has not even kept a separate accounting of the funds collected.  The city has been unable to provide any information on how it has spent any funds it has collected on any safety program.
• The city claims the safety of children is the purpose of the program but has never performed a safety study, or even consulted with a professional traffic engineer. Washington State Patrol statistics show there has never been an incident in a school zone in Edgewood since 2014 which is as far back as the online data goes. Despite that, Edgewood is the only city in the Puyallup School District which enforces school zones with photo cameras. 

 
THE CITY HAS BEEN UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY DATA TO SHOW THERE WAS EVER A PROBLEM AND THEREFORE CANNOT SHOW THEY HAVE ACCOMPLISHED ANYTHING OTHER THAN COLLECT REVENUE.

• At $399,000 per year, it appears the camera company has benefited the most from the program. 
• I also have serious concerns that photo enforcement cameras violate due process protections (innocent until proven guilty) by accusing and fining the owner of a vehicle without having any knowledge of who was actually driving. Several State Supreme Courts around the country  have ruled against photo enforcement because of due process violations.

I'm certain the council wants to act lawfully and not subject the citizens to unneeded and unfair laws.

Respectfully,

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Email Dave Olson dave.olson@cityofedgewood.org Term Expires: December 31, 2027

Email Jennifer Pazaruski Jennifer.pazaruski@cityofedgewood.org Term Expires: December 31, 2027

Email Jason Ramirez jason.ramirez@cityofedgewood.org Term Expires: December 31, 2027

Email Christi Keith christi.keith@cityofedgewood.org Term Expires: December 31, 2025

Email Rosanne Tomyn rosanne.tomyn@cityofedgewood.org Term Expires: December 31, 2025

Email John C. West jwest@cityofedgewood.org Term Expires: December 31, 2025

Email Erica Buckley erica.buckley@cityofedgewood.org Term Expires: December 31, 2025

Email Jeff Southard jeff.southard@cityofedgewood.org Term Expires: December 31, 2027