|
Councilmember Frye holds a press conference to kick off "On the Streets Where We Live" street safety campaign.
Councilmember Frye asks drivers to slow down on residential streets and respect our neighborhoods.
Dave Larson, Co-Chair of BestFest 2003 announces new Public Service Announcement category for the Student Film Festival.
Holy Smitt tells about the tragic day when she and her dog were hit by a truck that ran a red light.
|
In order to implement one of my top priorities "Increase safety, both pedestrian and vehicular on our neighborhood streets," I joined BestFest San Diego Student Film Festival, Police Officers, Fire Fighters, San Diego Transportation Department and Walk San Diego to kick off "On the Streets Where We Live," a street safety campaign.
I am working with all of these groups to slow down drivers on our streets. Soon after I was elected into office it was brought to my attention by the constituents of District Six that pedestrian and vehicular street safety has a large impact on their everyday quality of life. That is why I have launched this campaign. I am asking drivers to slow down and respect our neighborhoods. There are two aspects to this street safety campaign, public awareness and community involvement.
First, I am partnering with BestFest San Diego Student Film Festival to involve students in identifying problems and creating solutions to traffic related issues. "On the Streets Where We Live" will be the theme for the Public Service Announcement (PSA) category at BestFest. The sixty-second PSA category is the latest addition to this year's San Diego Student Film Festival, BestFest 2003.
College and High School students will participate by creating a PSA that cites a serious problem and provides a plausible solution to traffic related issues. Entries will be rated on theme observance, problem/solution adherence, overall impact and quality of work. I will be awarding $5,000 in cash prizes for the PSA category. Officially selected films will be screened at BestFest 2003 on Saturday & Sunday, April 26 & 27, 2003 at the San Diego Natural History Museum.
Community involvement is the second aspect of this campaign. In response to constituent concerns, I have been holding Traffic Calming Meetings in neighborhoods where a traffic issue has been identified. I invite these residents to share what the problem on their street is and what they think should be done to fix it.
Traffic Engineers and Police Officers are there to educate neighbors on what they can and cannot do to help alleviate the impact traffic has on their streets. Holding these meetings gives the community a forum to have their concerns directly addressed by the experts. This helps take some of the confusion and frustration out of having these traffic issues solved.
I have held eight of these meetings so far with great success. As a result of these Traffic Calming meetings the Transportation Department has installed stop signs, altered traffic lines and painted cross walks. Police enforcement has also been increased in these areas.
Finally, I need your help to get the word out that the people that we love live on the streets that people are speeding down. I ask you and your neighbors to join with me and slow down "on the streets where we live."
Additional Resources "On the Streets Where We Live"
BestFest 2003 Student Film Festival
Race Legal
MADD San Diego
Walk San Diego
San Diego Streets Division
San Diego Fire-Rescue and Emergency Services
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
|
