Letter re: White Zone

I post this letter as an addition to this blog. No, I didn't write it. This, from another neighbor opposing the white zone...



WHITE ZONE AT ALAMO SCHOOL

September 3, 2007

Dear friends and neighbors,

Thank you for supporting our effort to stop the installation of an 80 foot white zone in front of Alamo school by signing the petition.

We attended the public hearing on August 31st to oppose the installation of the 80 foot white zone that was proposed for in front of Alamo School. We were given six minutes to present our augments in opposition to the white zone. In reality, the white zone is already a done deal and the hearing was only a formality to comply with the law. The hearing officer tossed us a bone by cutting the zone from 80 feet to 60 feet.

After the hearing we confronted the City Engineers and pointed out that before they proposed the white zone there was no opportunity for the neighborhood to have some input into the plan. We also pointed out that little or no traffic studies were ever made and insufficient time was given for the hearing notice under the law.

To comply with the law, the City has to submit a new proposal and a new hearing. As a result of being able to present the neighbor’s petition and voice our concern, the Traffic Engineer decided to revise the proposal to be 60 feet of white zone and have the active hours of the zone be 8:00 to 9:00AM and 2:00 to 3:00PM.

This plan will likely be adopted, as we still are not able to put any input into the proposal. All the information that we have was E-mailed to the group that is pushing for the white zone. Not a very democratic way for a governmental agency to act.

While it appears that the white zone is a done deal, it’s important for us to show our displeasure to the Alamo School and the City of San Francisco for disrespecting our neighborhood. You can do this by attending the next hearing or by calling school Principal Gira at 750-8456 and Traffic Engineer Jessica Manzi at 701-4548. They are civic servants and should have the curtsey to listen to all the taxpayers impacted before acting.

Sincerely,


(Name and address have been removed)