Latest news with #VisionZero
Winnipeg Free Press
4 minutes ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Next spring too late for bike lane
Opinion On July 17, I spoke before Winnipeg City Council, urging them to ditch the latest delay to the installation of a bike lane where Rob Jenner was struck and killed last year on Wellington Crescent. I was joined at the podium by Wendy Van Loon (Rob's wife), and in the galleries by over 120 members of our cycling community, who came out wearing red for Rob to send a powerful message to city council: We are united in solidarity and we will not be ignored. According to the plan that was before city council, the public service would be required to engage in consultations until February of 2026 before installing the bike lane next spring. This delay is unacceptable, and that's not just something that I can say for myself. The last two weeks at bike racks, intersections, and cycling events, I have spoken with over 400 cyclists about the delays this bike lane has faced since April, and can say that I have never seen our community so moved to shock, anger, and distrust in the system. Our community wants Winnipeg to be decisive and strategically agile in the pursuit of Vision Zero. Our community wants City Hall to set a new precedent in which fatal crashes trigger immediate road design interventions. In all these conversations, something became crystal clear. Whether City Hall intends it or not, delaying again sends a message to Winnipeg's cyclists: We'll protect you when it's convenient for us. The report from the Public Works department on this bike lane (available on the city's website) is revealing. It notes 13 reported collisions with pedestrians and cyclists occurred on this part of Wellington between 2012-2022 (averaging one every 280 days, which is a shorter period than the proposed delay). It also states that 'Traffic modelling predicts the pilot would result in minimal traffic impacts.' With this context, I want to share one more quote: 'It is important to note this four-phased approach is atypical of a traditional pilot. A pilot would typically see infrastructure put into place prior to any feedback collection. The proposed infrastructure could be implemented in 2025; the public service would then modify the plan to more closely resemble a typical pilot and collect feedback from both road users and fronting residents after they have an opportunity to experience the change.' Given the acknowledgment of Wellington's dangerous design, the expectation of minimal impacts on traffic, and the fact that this delay for consultation is inconsistent with typical city practices, our community came together to demand that city council ditch the delay. In response to the call from our community, Coun. Sherri Rollins advanced a motion to do just that, which received only two votes (her own, and Cindy Gilroy's) and was defeated. Wellington Crescent, where green 'bike route signs' stand in sharp contrast to Rob Jenner's white ghost bike, will remain as dangerous as the day he died until next spring. We have been watching the decisions made at City Hall. These delays have us feeling angry at our political leadership, embarrassed at the state of our infrastructure, and afraid that our next bike ride could be our last. We are pessimistic about Winnipeg's ability to meet big challenges when we see city council getting tangled in 'atypical' red tape over one bike lane. We are tired of being villainized as disrespectful in our advocacy by politicians who confuse requests to be listened to for personal attacks. When our councillors can't stay off their phones or even stay in the room during meetings that are designated as the place and time for citizens to weigh in on civic matters, they don't have a leg to stand on calling us disrespectful. Honestly, I did not go to City Hall expecting they would ditch the delay. Public Works chair Janice Lukes stated at last week's executive policy committee meeting that the lane would not be built this year. Yet I had hoped that with a hundred observers, our community would be heard. Halfway through my delegation, Lukes left the room. Perhaps after our next election, we will have councillors who can sit through a meeting. Aro van Dyck is an advocate for safer streets.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Knoxville City Council primary election voter's guide: Get to know the 2025 candidates
The Knoxville City Council primary election is Aug. 26, and the top two candidates in each district will advance to the general election on Nov. 4. Early voting is open Aug. 6-21. Here's what the candidates told us about their plans, their outlooks and what changes they'd like to see in Knoxville. Karyn Adams, District 1 Age: 53 Profession: Principal and creative director for H·A ThirtyOne How do you describe your leadership in a system where the mayor holds most of the decision-making power? I bring progressive, innovative ideas with a pragmatism that works to get them across the finish line. That means building consensus, developing positive working relationships with both sides of whatever the fence might be. With the new representation system, how will you advocate for the concerns of people in your district who might have different needs from other parts of the city? I must represent, and will be proud to represent, District 1. I'm going to be a better councilperson the more I understand about each district. I have to be "in it" for the whole city and to help my colleagues understand what's important District in 1. What needs does Knoxville have and how can the city council close those gaps in: Public safety? Vision Zero reported there's been a reduction in fatalities. That's public safety. (Running and cycling) aren't just fun things to do; they're ways to get about our city. The safer those can be, the greater reduction we have in people needing to drive cars. In terms of (policing) ... I think there's friction in our communities. The way to make that better is to have more opportunities for positive engagement when it's not a crisis. Housing? We've talked about building out corridors. I want to see that happen. From a housing perspective, and the different types of housing it would enable, that's what we've got to do. Business development? We've got all these systems that encourage residential development, certain types of housing ... we don't have that for commercial. Communities that desperately need and want specific types of commercial (development), we don't have the incentives to do that. Infrastructure? Sidewalks, roads and paving, things that seem like "why can't we do this better?" We have a proposal out by the mayor. I appreciate there are efforts to secure more dollars to make infrastructure changes in a faster, more impactful way. Lindsey Jaremko, District 1 Age: 40 Profession: Compliance monitor for the Tennessee Department of Homeland Security How do you describe your leadership in a system where the mayor holds most of the decision-making power? I think of representation as less about personality than people who live in the district. It's public service. I would meet with people regularly instead of community sessions to pitch whatever the mayor wants. I haven't seen the transparency I would like to see. With the new representation system, how will you advocate for the concerns of people in your district who might have different needs from other parts of the city? If there's a decision impactful on another district (and not) my district, I would consider how the community feels. I'm bringing my experience, perspective and education to this role; it's a matter of communicating it. What needs does Knoxville have and how can the city council close those gaps in: Public safety? We don't have a great social safety net. I worry it's going to get worse and KPD's budget will get larger. If city council had line-item budgeting, they could pull some money and put it toward social services. Housing? Having an amount of (workforce) units in a market-rate complex and using tax breaks while increasing infrastructure needs creates distrust. We can look at what other cities do instead of "all housing, everywhere, all the time." A community land trust would be awesome. Business development? I would love to see Vestal developed for small businesses. We need to protect small businesses. I worry about the sales tax and what that might do as far as businesses closing. Infrastructure? I'd like to see sidewalks that connect communities. I know what it's like to be a renter and as you see improvements, you're worried it might push you out. There needs to be protections for people there, while moving working people to bus stops and getting from one part of the district to another. You're going to have to find out what you're willing to pay less for in other areas. Becky Jones, District 1 Age: 45 Profession: Insurance agent How do you describe your leadership in a system where the mayor holds most of the decision-making power? The meeting is derived from the mayor. She kind of controls that. If you're gonna be on city council, you're placed there by the voters and they want their voices heard. If they're not talking directly to the mayor, it's kind of hard to make that decision for the voters if it's just (the mayor) all the time. With the new representation system, how will you advocate for the concerns of people in your district who might have different needs from other parts of the city? I'm very thankful we were able to get the (new election system) done. It's going to be a good thing, but you can also speak up for other candidates. It goes back to the relationships with city council ... you need to have those conversations. I see a lot of division. What needs does Knoxville have and how can the city council close those gaps in: Public safety? I'm a huge advocate for law enforcement. We need to make sure that our law enforcement and fire department has exactly what they need. We need to make sure we are able to recruit firefighters. Do we have enough men and women? Are their contracts good? What's the morale like? Housing? I have yet to see a single apartment, house, condo, whatever it is, that's been affordable. City council is not going to be able to do anything. We do not have control over the people that are building. Business development? One of the things the voters were asking for are more (shopping) options. Going out and making sure that we're having conversations with builders and revitalizing South Knoxville. Nothing happens if people don't speak up. Infrastructure? The biggest thing is going to be the Gay Street Bridge. The voters and the people I have talked to think it is the most ridiculous thing to not have that bridge open. Charles Van Morgan, District 1 Age: 60 Profession: former Tennessee Highway Patrol officer and owner of A Safe Taxi How do you describe your leadership in a system where the mayor holds most of the decision-making power? I know how to look over things and detect when they're not being truthful and I'll point it out. Being on city council gives me a forum to speak out about issues. With the new representation system, how will you advocate for the concerns of people in your district who might have different needs from other parts of the city? I think we all have the same goals. The system should rest on the best-qualified and hardest workers. We have a system now where the best don't always move forward. I would try to encourage people to do the best they can. What needs does Knoxville have and how can the city council close those gaps in: Public safety? They need law enforcement that's allowed to do their jobs. I can lower the crime rate in Knoxville. One of the things they need to do is investigate people in suits and ties who commit criminal acts that endanger the public far more than any straight criminal. Housing? A lot of people want homes and will work and we can spend more money on housing subsidies and give tax breaks to builders. The way to solve the homeless problem is "build, build build." We need to build single-family homes. Business development? We can help by leveling the playing field with businesses, making it an environment that honors work and that has more jobs by tax breaks, and anything we can do to help local businesses in cutting red tape. Tax breaks (come from getting) rid of frivolous spending. We can lower taxes and get more revenue. Infrastructure? There's a lot of building going on, but the roads, sewage and power grid is not there to back up the building. If I'm on the city council, I'll look over the budget and introduce amendments to put money in the infrastructure. Nathan Honeycutt, District 2 Age: 46 Profession: Architect How do you describe your leadership in a system where the mayor holds most of the decision-making power? I have always been about consensus-building. Even in a mayor-strong system, we need consensus not just among the city council members but with the public. The process is gathering those opinions, weighing pros and cons, and creating a plan everyone can get behind. Part of that is going to neighborhood meetings, holding town halls and gathering input. With the new representation system, how will you advocate for the concerns of people in your district who might have different needs from other parts of the city? (It) gives us an opportunity to focus on our districts in a way that's unique. We have to weigh everything against our particular district, but generally speaking, if it's good for the city, it's good for our district. What needs does Knoxville have and how can the city council close those gaps in: Public safety? I support a fully staffed, well-funded police department. I'm a big proponent of mental health and was glad to see the co-responder program. I think we need to expand and grow that program. Housing? There can be design guidelines that aren't restrictive but set a standard. Community input alleviates people's concerns. There's also some things we can do to streamline permitting. We can develop a library of pre-approved plans for single, multifamily and mixed housing types. Business development? There's different incentives related that we can leverage to make sure that everyone benefits (from business development) long-term. I know what it means to run a business in East Tennessee and what benefits people. Infrastructure? There's a lot of infrastructure that will need attention. The stormwater system alone is a huge driver for current and future development. A lot of times, the city puts upgrading of current utilities onto development costs, inhibiting development. The more the city can fund the utility infrastructure and take those costs off smaller developments, it'll help the city long-term. Melody Watts, District 2 Age: 34 Profession: Event strategist How do you describe your leadership in a system where the mayor holds most of the decision-making power? I would say we need to go back to what is lawfully supposed to be happening on city council. It's not just one person, but the council working together. With the new representation system, how will you advocate for the concerns of people in your district who might have different needs from other parts of the city? Make sure that you're hearing your district members. I am representing District 2, but I have to be able to work with other council members who hopefully are also listening to their district members. As a representative, you're supposed to have communication with everybody. You're also supposed to be open with community members, council members. Not just figure out your own agenda and make that happen. What needs does Knoxville have and how can the city council close those gaps in: Public safety? I've noticed the increase in what people would put (under) a blanket label of "homelessness." It's heartbreaking because there's a lot of complex issues. Making sure that the law enforcement is well-trained not to go and arrest these people, but we have resources that can help these people. Housing? Maybe we are getting (a population influx) but the people come just for a season, get what they want and then leave. There's a bigger need to see what we can do to make sure people are taking root. Business development? (City council) needs to make sure it's not so difficult to open a small business. I've heard some businesses haven't been able to open because there wasn't a bike rack or something, and everything had to be put on hold. Maybe looking at codes and having an open discussion with the codes person. Infrastructure? We need a chance to let the infrastructure catch up. Plans have been made pushing really fast. Nick Ciparro, District 3 Age: 45 Profession: Chief technology officer at Celtig How do you describe your leadership in a system where the mayor holds most of the decision-making power? You just vote against it. You say, "No I'm not going to vote for that." If the council votes no, the mayor has to put their reputation on the line. If you can gain political currency with your finger on the pulse of the people, you can do whatever you want. With the new representation system, how will you advocate for the concerns of people in your district who might have different needs from other parts of the city? You have to be communicative. We have a representation issue. You gotta work with other districts, but you gotta look out (for your own district). What needs does Knoxville have and how can the city council close those gaps in: Public safety? Our police officers are being misused. My district is not too bad, there's a little bit of homeless stuff going on. There's a lot of compassion. That's where that cross-platforming with other districts goes, discussing with them and learning more about their situations. You fix where the big ouch is. Housing? The whole city needs truly affordable housing. We have out-of-town entities that are buying up land and putting apartments up. They don't care (about affordability). It's all in codes and enforcement. You can say, "No, I will not let you have your building permit." We should be looking at local firms. Business development? We have a lot of people coming in. Just a friendlier interaction with businesses. Actually having people at the front desk to answer for codes or services. A lot people can't get things done. The city is not doing anything. Infrastructure? We've been giving zoning rights to apartment complexes ... they're packing stuff in the wrong locations and not incentivizing people building these things to expand infrastructure. We're seeing backwards, upside-down development. Ivan Harmon, District 3 Age: 77 Profession: Former Knox County Sheriff's Office employee How do you describe your leadership in a system where the mayor holds most of the decision-making power? You need to communicate with the mayor, their staff. You might not see things (their) way, but you need to be willing to communicate and negotiate. Each issue, you have to deal with the different departments in the city. With the new representation system, how will you advocate for the concerns of people in your district who might have different needs from other parts of the city? Once you're elected, you represent everybody. You vote on all issues. You've got to be open and willing to visit a situation that's not in your district. What needs does Knoxville have and how can the city council close those gaps in: Public safety? You can't get out into the street without having to pull into traffic. You talk to the service department. A lot of times it's cutting a tree or a bush. We've got police officers and I think (the mayor) has just put horses on patrol. I'm not really a big horse fan, they're hard to handle. It's a burden. We spend tons of money ... maybe put more (officers on) bicycles. Housing? We need to evaluate the vacant lots. We have to list them in the tax sales. If it's available, we got to build a house on them. There's a lot of blighted properties. Business development? We need to work with developers and owners better, advertise accessibly to them. There are all kinds of shops that want to come in but don't know how to. We have to have a department in the city that would be willing to sit down and train people. Infrastructure? Traffic calming in the neighborhoods is a big issue. I'm for speed humps, to a point. We can put these machines up that show you the speed. ... We have to make it more easier for communities to get those. Doug Lloyd, District 3 Age: 76 Profession: Business owner How do you describe your leadership in a system where the mayor holds most of the decision-making power? It's going to be difficult. We're going to have to put together a coalition of people who can work together. You gotta learn to listen to your people. Hopefully we can find a way to work together. I don't feel like the mayor holding all the power is the best way for the city government to work. With the new representation system, how will you advocate for the concerns of people in your district who might have different needs from other parts of the city? I am there to be the voice of the constituents in 3rd District. I've talked to hundreds of people by now. They want their roads fixed, they want their garbage picked up, they want fire and police protection and they want to be left alone. They don't want their tax money collected in the 3rd District spent somewhere else. What needs does Knoxville have and how can the city council close those gaps in: Public safety? We're pretty good on first responders and the fire department. People are concerned about police protection in some areas. We enjoy a pretty good area there in 3rd District. Our biggest problems are usually little things by comparison to the downtown area or east. Housing? If the city was really serious about housing, they would get their codes enforcement streamlined. A lot of money is wasted while plans are being reviewed over and over again. As far as Knoxville needing additional housing units ... in the open market, the market will set the price. We only have a limited number of vacant lots left in the city. I'm not happy with what I'm seeing where they're rezoning neighborhoods. Business development? People who come into Knoxville become disenchanted and they'll build their business somewhere else. Knoxville doesn't have a reputation of being business-friendly. We're going to have to change some attitudes. If we advocate for friendly government, it will percolate down through each of the divisions. Infrastructure? We need to take a long look at what goes on at KUB. We need to be sure that they're spending money in a sensible manner. We need to be sure they're good stewards of citizens' money as well. Frank Ramey, District 3 Age: 38 Profession: President an online ammunition retailer How do you describe your leadership in a system where the mayor holds most of the decision-making power? Instead of pushing against somebody, it's working with them. I can be pretty pragmatic, and I'm open to being convinced. I don't have line-item power. It's understanding, "What's the mayor trying to accomplish? Do I agree with it?" With the new representation system, how will you advocate for the concerns of people in your district who might have different needs from other parts of the city? Knoxville as a whole works together. No one district alone can survive on its own. We have to pull together to understand, "How can we make Knoxville better?" What needs does Knoxville have and how can the city council close those gaps in: Public safety? One thing I could work toward is to bring back neighborhood liaisons. Having a liaison connects people in neighborhood associations to KPD. It will make them feel heard, big credit to KPD. They're really invested. Housing? We've got a high number of renters in our district. Their concerns are, "Our rents keep going up." One issue is it's difficult to build in Knoxville. The permitting process is really slow, pretty painful and expensive. I think it's something we can tighten up. Why can't that be shorter? There's other models in our region we can pull from. Business development? Raising up organizations we have already would help. The Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, I think the city as a whole can help make sure people know it exists. There are fantastic resources in our city that I think if people were aware of, they would be more willing to start a business. Infrastructure? The arterial roads ... I think a lot of it's just doing traffic studies, raising our hand with TDOT to say "Hey, we need help with this." Everyone wants to live where they can drive safely, walk safely. Matthew DeBardelaben, District 4 Age: 52 Profession: Real estate broker with Avison Young How do you describe your leadership in a system where the mayor holds most of the decision-making power? Collaborative. It's a lot of information-gathering through conversations with people in the 4th District. And hopefully having those conversations with the mayor and her staff so when the city council meeting comes, I'm well-informed. With the new representation system, how will you advocate for the concerns of people in your district who might have different needs from other parts of the city? My district is diverse. Understanding the diversity and the needs of each (neighborhood) is the place to start. And second, being informed on strategies to address those challenges and opportunities. I'm going to advocate for a very collaborative council. What needs does Knoxville have and how can the city council close those gaps in: Public safety? As it concerns crime and violence, I feel like it's so important that the training take place for officers to learn how to do de-escalation and to continue to fund and add training to our other strategies with mental health professionals. We need officers who know their neighborhoods. As far as public safety for traffic, we need to think about how to calm traffic on roads while reducing congestion. Housing? There's a lack of building stock, and construction is expensive. The city process can often be cumbersome. (The city needs to) help guide these builders through the process of design and permitting and inspections. I'm excited about the infill and middle housing and allowing duplexes, quadplexes, triplexes. Business development? Businesses fail to launch because (permitting) gets complicated. Thinking through the ordinances and zoning that we have and (asking), is it productive to our small businesses is one (solution). Infrastructure? Public transportation right now, the KAT system, it's not very happy travel. They do it because they have to get to work. I've been in other cities where I enjoy riding on the bus. Part of that is reliability, making sure it's regular. Jeff Talman, District 4 Age: 52 Profession: Mortgage loan officer How do you describe your leadership in a system where the mayor holds most of the decision-making power? Respectfully argumentative. I come from a perspective of an advocate. I argue and then we come to an agreement and move forward. As a systemic thing, I think there's a reason why voter turnout is low. We've got boring civics. With the new representation system, how will you advocate for the concerns of people in your district who might have different needs from other parts of the city? I'd be an advocate for them because they are different. Most of what council does is land use. I feel a great sense of duty to protect (residents) so they can feel like they can go to sleep and not worry about the backyard being divided. One of the things I understand granularly is the context to which zoning decisions are being made, and then being able to advocate to the rest of the council. What needs does Knoxville have and how can the city council close those gaps in: Public safety? We need to have a discussion about the social contract and the rights and responsibilities we have to each other. I think we have to default to trusting law enforcement. My concern is, who gets victimized? It tends to be the poorest folks in the community. If I were king, I would convert Knoxville College into an institution of higher learning that's focused on law enforcement. Housing? The body is limited in what it can do. So much of the affordable housing doesn't harness the power of incentive for people to own. We create these fast tracks of government housing that nobody owns. Business development? Everything is too hard to navigate. Stuff that should take days takes months. We talk about engaging people with modest means; if you're a contractor and you're good and licensed, but not strong on administrative stuff, we've effectively disqualified you from participating in our community. Infrastructure? We're in a metropolitan area. When we talk about putting paint on the street so people can bicycle, what that really means is we're anti-vehicle. We're going to strangle the cars. I think it's crazy. I'm in favor of addressing safety for making real consequences for people who drive unsafely. Charles Frazier, District 6 Age: 70 Profession: Sales executive at WJBE radio How do you describe your leadership in a system where the mayor holds most of the decision-making power? Anything I do for my district, I have to have four other people voting for it with me. I have to have a good relationship with the mayor and the other council people. There's things I want to put on the table that haven't been put on the table before. With the new representation system, how will you advocate for the concerns of people in your district who might have different needs from other parts of the city? Every Sunday, I'm going to travel across the district and have community meetings. I don't think that anyone can advocate for a group of people if they don't know what their needs are. I'm going to let them tell me what their concerns are. My district is so diverse. What needs does Knoxville have and how can the city council close those gaps in: Public safety? We're gonna have to turn to community policing. I want the police officers to get to know people in our community. Housing? Am I for all the assistance that can be given that makes sense for affordable housing? No doubt. I want to help and cut out money (to use) for affordable housing. I want to be as effective as we can. Business development? We have to have a safer community. That's a job I have to do. I have to make sure that we share in the prosperity. We share in the prosperity in the city. We've been talking about Burlington for years. I like that we're building a new fire hall. It's going to have an increase in employees, a better service there. When you fix an area up, it will bring more people. The business people want it to be safer. Infrastructure? A lot needs to be done in terms of improvement of paving the roads in Knoxville. The proposed tax ... it'll be interesting to see if the people of Knoxville vote for that. (The city council) can make it a priority to do it faster and be more effective. Denzel Grant, District 6 Age: 34 Profession: Executive director, Turn Up Knox How do you describe your leadership in a system where the mayor holds most of the decision-making power? I think inclusive leadership is important. I think getting to a space where we can have more dialogue, I would like to see city council have a bit more influence in the decision-making. Maybe revising the charter and seeing what language we need to (update). Not to take away power (from the mayor), but creating more opportunities of dialogue so council members can have more knowledge and influence. With the new representation system, how will you advocate for the concerns of people in your district who might have different needs from other parts of the city? It's important for you to have relationships with your counterparts, other council people. You have communities that are the same neighborhood but different districts. Some of these neighborhoods are going to have the same concerns. There's a need for more conversation amongst council members. What needs does Knoxville have and how can the city council close those gaps in: Public safety? Alternative response, violence interruption will be the key piece. I think the city should continue to invest in violence interruption from a community-based standpoint. We have a lot of organizations doing the work in our community and they deserve some type of investment. I was fortunate enough to have that foundation and support ... we have other organizations that deserve the same opportunity. I think there's power in partnership. Housing? Density is a topic, the permitting process, those things. You have different pockets of the neighborhood who don't want to see that happening and some who do. Both are OK. That's why I'm so big on bringing people to the table. Development and growth and change is OK. It shouldn't create division. We can look into our zoning, removing some of the barriers that drive up cost. Business development? If you want businesses to come in, it's challenging in a high-crime area. We're gonna have to consider making the initial investment ourselves in terms of infrastructure, making sure streets are clean and sidewalks look good. There's a lot of opportunity for businesses. Equity isn't charity; we need real investment in District 6. I think that's how we can uplift District 6. Infrastructure? We want to have a healthy ecosystem, inspiring people to want to ride their bike, making sure traffic is safe is important. If people can walk to work, they're not driving their car and that minimizes pollution. Stan Johnson, District 6 Age: 54 Profession: SEEED Knox director How do you describe your leadership in a system where the mayor holds most of the decision-making power? I'm a servant for the people. What we need to do is make sure the people have access to not only the mayor, but the process of how things actually work. It's hard for somebody that doesn't think it would work for them, to go to city council. With the new representation system, how will you advocate for the concerns of people in your district who might have different needs from other parts of the city? I've started reaching out to other city council runners and asking them what's important in their neighborhood. I don't want to see everyone getting something that the 6th District doesn't get, but I don't want us to be the only ones getting stuff. I'm an advocate of working together and getting experts involved. What needs does Knoxville have and how can the city council close those gaps in: Public safety? We haven't seen a drop in violent crimes. If we get these young people jobs, they won't be out there committing crimes. I would like for (local violence interruption groups) to have the ability to do the work. Housing? Home ownership is a big deal. Home ownership means something. How do you build generational wealth? Those are the things we want to build in our community. Business development? We want the development. But we don't want displacement. We can use the people in our community to build. I want to start talking about, "How do we train for the future jobs?" Infrastructure? We need to be concentrating on how we make sure that (residents in the 6th District) are benefitting from (the city's plans). We're talking about streetscapes, we're talking about walkability. That is a broad statement. Once you get into a specific area, you have to remember the history and remember the people. George "Cat Dad" Raudenbush, District 6 Age: 61 Profession: Program administrator at Feral Cat Rescue and Youth Sanctuary How do you describe your leadership in a system where the mayor holds most of the decision-making power? I in no way, shape or form want to be in a position where council and the mayor are making all of the decisions. The issue is, power is inherent in the people. The council person is only a representative. They have to do what the people want. With the new representation system, how will you advocate for the concerns of people in your district who might have different needs from other parts of the city? By taking care of our district and all the needs in our district, it will become very strong, very productive. The other districts will look at us and say 'We want what they have." And guess what? Everybody in our district, because we're all in one city, we're gonna work together with other districts. What needs does Knoxville have and how can the city council close those gaps in: Public safety? Our first responders are number one. We've got to make sure they're adequately prepared. I've noticed the KPD physical office closes their doors at 4 p.m. We need to look at that and see if we need more accessibility. I know they have the "teleserve" by phone readily accessible, but we need to look at how we make improvements there. Housing? Reassessing and reevaluating what we have right now. It takes everybody working together; we can get it done very quickly and very easily. There's a lot of waste that's going on. Homelessness, we can eliminate it in three months. We have a large section of our homelessness (population) who have mental illness. We have programs for those people. Why aren't they getting the help they need? Business development? We have to strengthen our small businesses. We have to refocus, readjust and help those people become prosperous. If we want to be a citizen of a city that's of the people, we need to do that. We create an awareness with the people. The big part is getting with each small business and teaching them how to bring in more business. Infrastructure? We need accountability. Why has the Gay Street Bridge been closed with no plans of reopening? Our infrastructure is very, very important. We have to improve our communication within the city, county and state so we can get repairs done. If we don't take care of our infrastructure, that results in harming our city. Lawrence "Man" Williams, District 6 Age: 50 Profession: Pastor and community leader How do you describe your leadership in a system where the mayor holds most of the decision-making power? I believe in respecting everyone. One thing I am not is a "yes man." I'm going to do right for the people. We've got to be able to sit down at the table where we can see from everybody's point of view. The mayor has a lot of power, but people in the inner city get left out a lot. With the new representation system, how will you advocate for the concerns of people in your district who might have different needs from other parts of the city? We believe that if we have someone from where we're from standing for us, it inspires us and gives us hope. We can have community meetings and get them to start coming to the meetings. What needs does Knoxville have and how can the city council close those gaps in: Public safety? We can give folks that are out there something to do, because they're looking for opportunities. They're looking to be a part of something, to make an impact. KPD been doing a great job. It ain't always about locking them up. How can we do this where the community can have trust with KPD? Housing? We can't keep allowing developers to come in here and allowing them to make a profit. The people is suffering. Some people can't even afford to pay rent. We as council members got to be able to come together and have a heart for people. Business development? We got to be careful because we want to put money in certain parts of the area, but not every part. If we can as council members help small business get started, help with policies that help them get on their feet, that way you are giving people hope again. Infrastructure? Let's put pressure on the city to do more throughout Magnolia, not just by downtown, and the Burlington area, but all of it. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knoxville City Council primary candidates 2025: Knox News Voter Guide Solve the daily Crossword
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
‘I don't know why we are debating this': Inside city hall's scrappy argument over speed cameras
The bigger picture on Toronto's speed-cameras program got a little fuzzy this week as an unexpected debate briefly seized city hall . At times, it got downright grumpy. In a majority vote Thursday night spurred by a motion from Mayor Olivia Chow, council directed its transportation staff and lawyers to report back in July on how feasible it would be to limit the number of tickets a car owner can receive from a speed camera before they receive their first infraction notice in the mail. The vote came after more than an hour of bickering over the use of speed cameras — including some councillors questioning whether the city is failing to give residents enough notice when new ones go up, or whether it's drivers who are just failing to pay attention. Here's what sparked the debate, and how it played out. Coun. Anthony Perruzza steered the issue into the spotlight this week, raising a stink about how some cameras are 'speed traps' that ticket drivers travelling 'close' to the posted speed limit. He argued the city doesn't do a good job in clearly warning residents when new cameras are about to be installed or when speed limits change on a road. His office issued a press release Wednesday saying he planned to propose briefly suspending Toronto's 150 speed cameras until the program could be reviewed. 'I believe in Vision Zero, but I don't believe in just willy-nilly speed traps,' Perruzza told reporters earlier on Thursday. 'They're painted in an obscure colour. They're usually hidden ... I am asking for a pause while we do this review.' Perruzza referred to the camera on Islington Avenue south of Albion Road as an example. If a driver is travelling on the wide arterial at 2 a.m., there's no one on the road and the driver is coming down off the decline, 'it's very easy' to go five or 10 km/h over the posted limit, he said. Since 2020, when Toronto first rolled out its speed cameras, the city has put up warning signs at least 90 days in advance — and signs when the cameras are installed — at new locations, as prescribed by provincial laws. But Perruzza, along with councillors Stephen Holyday and Vincent Crisanti, argued the signs may not be big enough, visible or clear. Holyday's motion to consider painting or vinyl wrapping the cameras in 'brighter contrasting colours' failed in a close vote of 11 to 9, with Chow voting in favour. 'Sometimes it's not fair, because sometimes you don't know a camera is there,' Chow said. 'We have these really little signs … (Drivers) will slow down if they see it. If they do, if they're speeding, they deserve a ticket.' Chow's motion also asked city staff to install 'larger, more visible, and clearer signage.' Despite the mayor's motion, the province sets the rules around the speed camera system, including fine amounts and signage, since it falls under the Highway Traffic Act. Under the legislation, cameras have to be installed in community safety zones , but the city establishes where to designate those zones. 'We don't have a lot of ability to enlarge those signs ... I'm not sure a larger sign would yield significant results,' Barbara Gray, the city's general manager of transportation services, said at council, in response to Coun. Jon Burnside's questions. Despite Vaughan recently taking this on with months of notices along roadways, public education efforts and large signs, residents were still 'caught off guard' and inundated Mayor Steven Del Duca's office with complaints about 'fairness.' A 2022 study , backed by a recent study soon to be published, analyzing speed and collision data found that automated enforcement significantly reduces the number of people speeding and improves driver behaviour. The debate Thursday took place during a discussion about the city's Vision Zero program, aimed at reducing traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries — and emerged against the backdrop of a rash of speed cameras being vandalized or cut down across the city . Perruzza, sympathetic to 'conscientious' drivers unaware they may be speeding on roads with newly lowered speed limits, who then get slapped with multiple tickets, said later to Burnside: 'As a former officer, I would think you would have heard this complaint all the time, about 'I didn't see that sign.'' 'And I said, 'too bad' ... If they're driving a car, should they not be paying attention?' retorted Burnside, who later suggested it might be a better idea to look at changing speed limits where they are 'unrealistic.' Coun. Josh Matlow pointed to a principle deeply rooted in legal systems worldwide: 'Even the ignorance of a law is not an excuse, in court or otherwise, for not obeying it.' Coun. Paul Ainslie, one of Chow's ceremonial deputy mayors, wanted to be rid of any warning signs altogether. 'I'm not prepared to go to some child's parents in my ward, and say, 'I'm really sorry your child was hit, we decided to make the cameras more visible — we made it easier for people to speed.'' It was clear that not everyone felt it was a useful conversation. Speaker Frances Nunziata's exasperated 'I don't know why we are debating this really' summed up the apparent mood of many inside council chambers. 'Barbara, how many times do I argue with you that I want speed cameras? I'm getting requests from all my constituents … Maybe in some wards it's not needed, I don't know,' Nunziata said, from her councillor's desk. But, 'do I care about somebody driving in Coun. Perruzza's ward at two in the morning? Well, I don't care. They're obviously speeding. The argument is so silly.' Speed cameras have long been a flashpoint topic, often described by critics as cash grabs when placed in certain locations that ticket drivers travelling a few kilometres over the limit. Premier Doug Ford has been pushing for better signage around the cameras. Meanwhile, ongoing vandalism — including the repeated decapitation of the Parkside Drive speed camera — has kept the cameras in the headlines. Last year, Toronto generated $40 million from its speed cameras. Gray disputed that they are a cash grab. She noted Toronto's program was created in conjunction with various law enforcement agencies so the cameras have a 'reasonable' threshold before they ticket drivers. 'The goal of the program is in no way revenue generation,' Gray said, noting speed is a major factor in road fatalities. 'If you don't speed, you don't get a ticket.' The city, meanwhile, does not divulge what speed over the posted limit will trigger cameras to issue tickets to drivers. The lion's share of the speed camera fines that go to the municipality (with a small chunk remitted to the province) is injected into the city's general accounts. Chow's motion also directed the city's chief financial officer to instead prioritize funding 'projects that improve safety, particularly in school zones and community safety zones,' such as installing cross walks or traffic lights and signs. Just before the vote Thursday night, Perruzza reversed course on asking for a brief suspension of the city's speed cameras without an explanation. Instead, he introduced a motion that included, among other things, a review of the hours the cameras operate. Pushing 8:30 p.m. with nearly a dozen agenda items left to still debate, Matlow quickly swivelled his chair around to face Burnside sitting behind him, hands in the air and visibly irritated by how long the debate dragged, to ask: 'So he's not suggesting to suspend them?!' Perruzza's new motion failed in a vote of 16 to 4. 'That was a really good use of our time,' Coun. Gord Perks said sarcastically inside the chambers.
Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
The road ahead for active transportation in Whitehorse
'There's no safe way out of the subdivision,' Jenna Frerot said at the top of Rainbow Road in Crestview. The sidewalk ends at the top of the road, which overlooks the cars and trucks driving along the Alaska Highway. Frerot said that when she takes her children to school in a trailer hitched to her bicycle, she rides on the lane of the winding road. 'When it's nice, not winter time, they want to ride on their own,' she said. She said it makes her nervous. 'My five-year-old goes in front. The three-year-old goes behind her, and I ride half in the middle of the road because just trying to be the guardrail for the two of them.' Frerot appeared before city council in June, with other parents living in Crestview, requesting that a paved connector trail be built to connect the neighbourhood to a paved trail that runs down to Wann Road. 'It's only roughly 640-meter long trail connector we're asking for that would help make commuting safe and accessible for everyone in our subdivision,' she told councillors. She also asked for speed reduction on the roads in the neighbourhood. Frerot's concerns come at a time when the city is evaluating its own transit network as part of developing its Vision Zero policy. The policy comes out of goals laid out in the city's transportation master plan, adopted in 2024, and it endeavours to see no fatalities or serious injuries on Whitehorse's transportation network by 2040. The policy is set to be accompanied by a safe mobility action plan, which is also in development. Safe mobility refers to improving safety for all travellers of all demographics and on all networks, including sidewalks and bike paths, said Brian Patterson, a consultant on the city's Vision Zero strategy. Speaking to attendees at a June 25 webinar, Patterson said that on average, 1.4 collisions are reported to police every day, 6.7 people are killed or injured (mildly or seriously) every month, and two people are killed per year on Whitehorse streets. 'That's two people too many,' said Patterson. 'No deaths are acceptable on our roads.' Rob Dickson is the manager of engineering services for the city. He told the News that based on data accessed through the territorial department of motor vehicles, there were 5,145 collisions in Whitehorse from 2015 to 2024. He said 84 per cent of those collisions resulted in property damage only, with no injuries: 16 per cent resulted in injuries, and 0.4 per cent collisions resulted in a fatality. It works out to between one to two fatalities annually. Dickson also said some of those collisions involved a vulnerable road user, or someone who was not in a car. However, many did involve individuals in cars, he said, including people who had left the road. A large proportion of these fatalities happen on the highway where people are travelling at higher speeds, said Dickson. According to Patterson, most fatalities in Whitehorse occurred between the hours of 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. The city has seen 20 fatalities on the roads over the past ten years. 774 collisions resulted in injuries, minor or serious, over the same time frame. A larger proportion, 40 per cent, of collisions resulting in injury or death happened between October and January, when light is low and road conditions are poor, he said. Patterson said collisions where drivers leave the road or strike a fixed object were the most common fatal collision types 'These are more common on rural roads or highways, where you have a shoulder and perhaps a vehicle runs off road in that shoulder area and might run into an object such as a lamp pole, or a fence,' said Patterson. The top four contributing factors to collisions which killed or hurt people were inattentive or distracted driving, failing to yield right-of-way, drinking, or driving too fast. Twenty per cent of fatal collisions involved a driver under the influence of alcohol, he said. In the data collected from 2015 to 2024, 60 pedestrians were involved in collisions that resulted in death or injury, said Patterson. There were three pedestrian fatalities over the past ten years, he said. The most frequent occurrence of collisions involving pedestrians were pedestrians crossing at marked crosswalks with no traffic signal. For cyclists, there were 23 collisions involving injury or death: One was fatal. The most frequent occurrence of collisions where cyclists were injured or killed was when vehicles were turning right. Patterson said the majority of collisions overall occurred on Fourth and Second Avenues within downtown, as well as Two Mile Hill and the Mountainview Drive/Copper Road/Quartz Road corridor. To create a Whitehorse where no one dies or is seriously injured on the city's roadways, Patterson said it's necessary to follow a 'safe system approach.' That means improving the safety of the transportation system itself and eliminating predictable and preventable serious injuries and fatalities, he said. There are six elements to the framework of safe systems: safe speeds, safe land-use planning, safe road users, safe vehicles, safe road design, and post-crash care. 'The approach means, we are understanding that humans make mistakes, we need to recognize that and design so that when mistakes do occur, that they aren't catastrophic in their impacts,' he said. Meghan Winters is a professor at the faculty of health sciences at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver. She leads the Cities Health and Active Transportation Research Lab, which looks into how city infrastructure and policy affects population health and health equity. Winters noted that despite having visited Whitehorse a couple of times, she isn't deeply familiar with the specifics of active transportation in the Yukon capital. Winters said its important not to minimize the problem despite a relatively small number of cyclists being killed on roads. 'That's a person whose life is lost. Fatality is one thing,' she said. 'There are many incidents that happen, crashes and collisions that happen, as well as falls and near misses that happen that impede, that create perceptions around the safety of cycling and then limit people from cycling,' she said. 'The safest infrastructure for cycling or walking or any other active transportation mode is something that separates them from motor vehicle traffic.' Safety is created through design and infrastructure, said Winters, not just through reducing speed limits. These considerations come as the city is working on its draft zoning bylaw, wherein they propose reducing parking minimums (the minimum amount of parking that must be provided for a given use, like housing or commercial). Some of the reasons cited for the move is to encourage more sustainable transportation and support alternative modes of getting around. The precursor to the draft zoning bylaw is the official community plan. There's a number of transportation goals in that plan: the primary goal being an accessible, safe, equitable and sustainable transportation network. While not Whitehorse specific, the Yukon government offers rebates for e-bikes. But for Jenna Frerot in Crestview, it's all for naught if the city doesn't improve the infrastructure people would be using to get around on foot or bike. 'If you build it, they will come, right? You can't ask people to actively commute downtown with no safe cross, like no safe trail, no plowed trail, right?' The transportation master plan has a long list of transportation infrastructure projects for the near, medium and long-term. They target a number of user groups, with everything from a new bridge crossing the Yukon River to a footbridge connecting downtown and the hospital. There are also significant number of projects targeting active transportation across town. More recently, the city announced plans to develop an active transportation network connecting Whistle Bend and downtown as well. It's expecting to cost around $12.5 million. A funding application has been put through for federal funds to build the trail, Dickson said. The city is still awaiting approval on that application. There is also the project for the Alaska Highway Multi-Use Trail. The trail, which is set to be built by the Yukon government, will run along the Alaska Highway between the North Klondike to the Carcross Cutoff. A final plan for that project should be complete by the end of July 2025, according to Adam Luciano, the manager of planning and programming at the transportation engineering branch for the Yukon government. The plan will map out what the trail will look like, as well as which parts will be built first, Luciano told the News on June 19. Priority trail sections have been identified, he said. Each piece of trail will have to be designed and constructed in turn, he said. 'The next piece that we're working on right now is a section of trail from Two Mile Hill over towards the Kopper King,' said Luciano. 'That has been submitted for environmental assessment.' The plan essentially expands the existing trail network outwards: picking it up from Two Mile Hill and start extending that to Porter Creek, he said. Luciano said that most of the feedback received on the trail through surveys was positive, but some people questioned the logic for building the trail instead of a different highway project. 'Our vision for the Alaska Highway through Whitehorse is really, is that it needs to offer travel options for all modes. It's not just a highway that, you know, moves things through the city,' Luciano said. 'It's really an important part of the city's transportation network for local people, connecting neighbourhoods,' he said. 'Putting a trail in and making sure that people have space, safe spaces to walk and cycle are a key part of you know, providing for the growth of the city going forward.' Dickson said the demand for active transportation infrastructure in the city is high. The city previously used data collected from bike-trip-sharing app Strava to track active transportation throughout Whitehorse. However, the city has started to install counters throughout town, including on bike trails, to see how many people in the city are walking and biking. The city wants to build up a database of the volume of traffic seen on the corridors, as it effects design and other parts of infrastructure, said Dickson. For instance, he said, the data collected at Hamilton Boulevard will help inform design decisions with the city's HART project. There are barriers to building infrastructure for active transportation, said Dickson. 'We have been working on active transportation improvements, probably since the late 90s, maybe even earlier in the 90s,' he said. 'And a lot of the projects that were sort of more easily implemented, have been implemented.' What remains now is the projects that are more complex to implement. For example, Dickson said, to put bike lanes on Second Avenue, there would have to be a reduction in space for cars. That would lead to congestion and traffic, he said. 'So that is a trade off, and being able to use the waterfront pathway isn't a huge detour, right, for cyclists,' Dickson said, adding it is also much safer for cyclists to be on a separated bike path. Whitehorse is also a vast city — spanning 414 square kilometres, according to Statistics Canada. The distances to connect subdivisions is long, Dickson said, and the funding required to connect the trail networks would be significant. Some roads aren't wide enough to accommodate an additional five meters to contain a separate bike path on each side, said Dickson. Furthermore, because of the grade of the road, a huge amount of construction and disturbance is required to build up an accessible trail. 'These are just examples, I guess, of the challenges we face and how those costs can mount pretty quickly when you're talking about five or six kilometres of trail,' he said. What can seem simple in theory — like installing new infrastructure on an existing road — can be quite complex in reality, said Dickson. 'There's more priorities than can be tackled on any given year,' Dickson said. 'There's pressure from all sides to make the right decision, right, with respect to investment, so we try to take the most defensible approach.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
The Independent
7 days ago
- Automotive
- The Independent
The smarter vehicle tech that's keeping British fleets safer on the road
Brigade Electronics is a Business Reporter client In an age of expanding cities and increasing delivery demands, keeping people safe around commercial vehicles has become a vital concern. A British company, Brigade Electronics, is at the forefront of efforts to reduce risks through practical technology that supports drivers and empowers safer decisions on the road. From its headquarters in Kent, Brigade has spent nearly 50 years improving commercial vehicle safety. What began with a reversing alarm inspired by one spotted in Tokyo in 1976 has grown into a global operation, employing more than 300 people and selling products in over 80 countries. Brigade's mission is rooted in a belief that safety is everyone's responsibility – and that positive outcomes come from aligning the best of human judgment with the right technology. 'Technology alone can't make roads safe,' says Managing Director Philip Hanson-Abbott. 'But it can help people make safer choices. The goal is to support the skill and judgement of drivers and fleet managers.' Vision Zero: a shared ambition Brigade's work contributes to Vision Zero, the global initiative working towards a future with no serious injuries or fatalities involving vehicles. It's an ambitious goal – but one Brigade sees as achievable with the right tools and attitudes in place. 'Vision Zero is about collaboration,' says Hanson-Abbott. 'We all have a part to play – from drivers and operators to fleet managers and councils. Our job is to make sure people have the information and confidence they need to act safely.' Brigade's products are designed to address real-world risks, such as blind spots around large vehicles or moments of distraction during long shifts. Its camera and sensor systems give drivers better visibility and timely warnings, helping them manoeuvre with more confidence and less stress, especially in busy urban environments. Smart tools, not just smart tech Recent advances in artificial intelligence have enabled Brigade to take a leap forward. Older sensor systems often triggered false alerts – treating a lamp post the same as a cyclist, for example. Over time, this could overwhelm drivers and lead to warning fatigue. AI systems now provide targeted alerts only when there's a meaningful risk. A cyclist in a blind spot triggers a visual warning; audible alarms only sound if a collision seems imminent. It's a more focused, less stressful experience for drivers – and one that enhances their awareness, rather than distracts from it. The same approach powers Brigade's driver fatigue and distraction monitoring. Cameras track signs of inattention and deliver alerts when needed. These tools aren't about surveillance – they're there to help drivers stay sharp and supported. 'Drivers carry a huge responsibility,' says Hanson-Abbott. 'We're not here to take over – we're here to give them the tools to do their jobs as safely and effectively as possible.' Insights that prevent, not just report Brigade's technology offers fleet managers a more proactive role in safety. Its video telematics and multi-camera systems deliver real-time data and video insight – not only recording what happened but helping to prevent it altogether. By analysing trends, behaviours and near misses, managers can address issues early, tailor driver support and improve fleet efficiency across the board. Brigade is investing heavily in an upgraded telematics platform, positioning it as a core component of its future offering and long-term growth strategy. Built on a tradition of innovation Brigade's influence stretches well beyond its own products. Many of the technologies it developed decades ago – such as blind spot detection systems and rear-view cameras – have now been mandated across the EU for all new vehicles. The team sees this not as an endpoint, but as encouragement to keep moving forward. 'We've always had followers, but we focus on leading,' says Hanson-Abbott. 'By innovating continually, we move the conversation forward and help shape the standards of tomorrow.' The company's achievements in international growth have earned it both the Queen's Award and the King's Award for Enterprise – recognition, Hanson-Abbott says, of the team's hard work and its commitment to improving safety, globally. A safer road ahead As talk of self-driving vehicles grows louder, Brigade remains grounded. Full autonomy in open environments may be years if not decades away. In the meantime, practical, intelligent solutions can make a meaningful difference now. 'Safety is about more than technology,' says Hanson-Abbott. 'It's about people – drivers, families, pedestrians. Our systems don't replace responsibility; they reinforce it. And if we all take steps together, we really can move towards a future where everyone feels safer around commercial vehicles.'
