| Author |
Message |
    
hch
Citizen
Username: Hch
Post Number: 153
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Friday, October 14, 2005 - 4:14 pm: |     |
Tom, the TC will listen to only 5 people if they complain loudly enough. I don't think taking the S.O. folks off of the list is necessary. |
TomD
Citizen
Username: Tomd
Post Number: 252
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Friday, October 14, 2005 - 5:10 pm: | |
This strikes me as a fight against apathy more than anything else, you know, something to get the people in positions of authority to do something, specifically in this case that something appears to be the will of a bunch of residents. My point is that there really isn't an opposition with a different view point--no one is going to come out as "pro-speeding".
I think the petition is a good way for a whole bunch of Maplewood residents who are otherwise unheard from to let the TC hear about something that obviously got their attention.
Thanks for pursuing this! |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 6482
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, October 14, 2005 - 6:38 pm: | |
Tom D wrote: "I think the petition is a good way for a whole bunch of Maplewood residents who are otherwise unheard from to let the TC hear about something that obviously got their attention."
Yes, but what happens next. Without a proposal as to how the speeding problem can be resolved (speed traps all over town just aren't practical and attempts to get speed bumps installed on major streets haven't worked in the past), we are not going to get much more than general acceptance that we have a speeding problem.
Therefore, let me expand on this thread and ask those reading this: What would you propose we do to reduce speeding in our town? |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 1817
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Friday, October 14, 2005 - 6:55 pm: | |
My ideas:
First, when you place that radar speed monitoring device around town, back it up with an officer stopping people and writing tickets, at least in the first few days it's there. I think pretty much everyone knows by now they can just ignore that thing.
Second, devote one officer in one car (could be a different officer every day, if the detail is deemed too boring) to rotate around town in different high risk, high traffic areas--of which I'm sure there are many, many dozens--(particularly in close vicinity to schools), particularly during morning and afternoon rush on weekdays, to stop folks who are speeding and give them tickets. I'm not even concerned that the officer stop every last speeder, but I think people driving by and seeing the officer stop someone else would certainly send a message. And if it was seen over and over again on a fairly regular basis, perhaps people would start to slow down.
You could put an officer on one of the side streets leading to my street, and he'd probably get half a dozen folks just during the time when people are dropping thier kids at Tuscan, which is the next block over. If there are folks who can identify particular areas where speeding is bad on the weekends, they could do Saturdays too. People speed up and down my street pretty much every day of the week, at all hours of the day and night.
And again, I will say that I don't think figuring out a reasonable plan for traffic enforcement is my job, or the job of any of the rest of us. It's the job of the police, and perhaps the TC, and other professionals who are well versed in this area. |
wendy
Supporter
Username: Wendy
Post Number: 1723
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, October 14, 2005 - 9:04 pm: | |
"And again, I will say that I don't think figuring out a reasonable plan for traffic enforcement is my job, or the job of any of the rest of us. It's the job of the police, and perhaps the TC, and other professionals who are well versed in this area."
I couldn't agree more Meand. It is the jobs of the professionals to figure this out. As citizens who drive we can of course suggest things. But just as we shouldn't and wouldn't be asked to propose crime reduction tactics, outside of keeping lights on and garages locked, so we shouldn't be called upon, or presumed to be able, to come up with traffic calming measures.
Twenty-five on residential streets. We have a law. Now go and enforce it and we the people are reminding you of this need. |
Richard Kessler
Citizen
Username: Richiekess
Post Number: 63
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Friday, October 14, 2005 - 10:43 pm: | |
People have noted that there are towns, such as Westfield that are known for enforcing traffic laws. How do they do it? How do others do it? Is there any plan in place to deal with this issue. I agree, it's not my job, nor my area of expertise to propose nor develop a plan. It is the local govenment, who may have to consult with people from outside the town to develop such a plan. And, of course, it has to be implemented. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 6486
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, October 15, 2005 - 7:17 am: | |
It's not our job to tell the police chief or any other part of town government how to deploy poolice officers or change infrastructure to best achieve the goal of slowing down traffic but it is helpful to define the problem to the extent that solutions become more evident.
One suggestion I would add, which hasn't been mentioned above:
We could and should institute a pledge (in addition to a petition). The undersigned would pledge not to exceed the speed limit when driving on Maplewood streets. A goal could be set and a graphic image displayed in one or more central locations showing how close the town is to achieving its goal of having this pre-determined number of drivers pledging to obey our speed-limits in town.
Once the goal is reached (or better yet exceeded), the usual media could be called in to publicize how one town in our region (Maplewood) is taking it upon ourselves to reduce speeding along our streets by taking up the pledge.
If this catches on, the momentum could encourage other communities to start a similar grass roots behavior modification program. |
ajc
Citizen
Username: Ajc
Post Number: 4224
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, October 15, 2005 - 9:39 am: | |
"The undersigned would pledge not to exceed the speed limit when driving on Maplewood streets."
Good idea Joan, I've always preferred to do my drinking, carousing, and speeding "outside of Maplewood" anyway...
Seriously, it's a great idea, just leave out "the Maplewood streets" and end on driving... |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 1818
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, October 15, 2005 - 9:55 am: | |
Very interesting idea Joan, particularly from a PR standpoint, however, I would think that folks who are putting their names on the petition are probably already very conscious of the speeds they drive everywhere they go. I know I am. Also, as it stands now, we have 110 names on the petition, which is great, but hardly representative of even a small percentage of the population of this town (does anyone know what the population is here anyway)!
Which leads to another reason why I'd like to wait to present this petition: I'd really like to get a good representation of a good majority of people. Perhaps it's a pipe dream, but it's my pipe dream! |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 10082
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, October 15, 2005 - 10:54 am: | |
Joan, that is such a good idea! Considering how Maplewood has a talent for getting into the news, it could really work. I mean, if our holiday music in the school can make the news, if our GUM WALL can make it in the news, why not this?
|
aquaman
Supporter
Username: Aquaman
Post Number: 529
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, October 15, 2005 - 6:50 pm: | |
Joan,
"We could and should institute a pledge (in addition to a petition). The undersigned would pledge not to exceed the speed limit when driving on Maplewood streets. A goal could be set and a graphic image displayed in one or more central locations showing how close the town is to achieving its goal of having this pre-determined number of drivers pledging to obey our speed-limits in town."
That's thinking outside of the box Joan!
Great idea, I love it. |
U.N. Owen
Citizen
Username: Unowen
Post Number: 8
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, October 15, 2005 - 8:30 pm: | |
Great idea, i'll do my best to spread the word |
Old and Gray
Citizen
Username: Pastmyprime
Post Number: 228
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, October 15, 2005 - 9:05 pm: | |
It is a great idea, but what about a solution?
Will you support the Police OT, or the hiring of more officers to dedicate to Traffic enforcement...and will you support the police department when residents start getting stopped.
You have to bring more to the table then "CRACK DOWN ON SPEEDING!"
Yes its a problem, but the solutions are costly in both Tax dollars and image for the police.
I do support the idea though...Please don't take it as criticism, but to open the discussion about real solutions. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 6490
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, October 16, 2005 - 7:39 am: | |
Old and Grey:
Would I support more overtime for our police officers or the hiring of more police officers (or the hiring of traffic enforcement officers) to enforce the speed limit in town? No. I don't think that should be necessary to reach the objective of enforcing speed limits in town.
Would I support the Police Department when residents start and continue to get stopped for traffic violations? Absolutely!
I don't think that the optimum solution here needs to be costly but I do think that we need to find some forms of positive reinforcement (and perhaps a little creative engineering) to get people to slow down when driving on our streets. The pledge idea I proposed above is just one possible method of behavior modification and increasing of public awareness that we can use to get people to think about the negative ramifications of speeding. Best of all, such an approach combined with random placement of police units to monitor speed on our streets could be an effective means of reducing and eventually resolving the problem. |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 1827
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Monday, October 17, 2005 - 7:30 am: | |
Stalled at 110 names. A great number, but I really want a whole lot more. Have you told all your friends and neighbors?
http://www.webpetitions.com/cgi-bin/print_petition.cgi?99500113 |
aquaman
Supporter
Username: Aquaman
Post Number: 531
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Monday, October 17, 2005 - 9:40 am: | |
Meandtheboys,
Did I see you outside the post office or King's or Bagel Chateau or Netnomads this weekend?
If you want more names, I'd suggest the old fashioned method. Get a table, a couple clipboards, and spend a couple hours per weekend drumming up signatures.
(I saw Paul Surovell in the Village in the a.m. and he was still there in the evening. )
It sounds as though you've saturated the on-line solicitation level. Hit the bricks, me, include the boys.
A. Curry, PhD, MD, DMB. |
amiegoad
Citizen
Username: Amiegoad
Post Number: 19
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Monday, October 17, 2005 - 4:42 pm: | |
tried to sign this petition but when I submitted it said I had already signed in... this is not true. Not sure who wld sign in for me... I'd really like to sign this petition and attach my comments.
Thx |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 1833
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Monday, October 17, 2005 - 5:10 pm: | |
amie, several other people have had this problem. One who did and seems to know her stuff when it comes to computers had this to say on another thread:
The website where the petition is located has protections set to prevent (or at least make it very difficult) for more than one name to be added to the petition from the same computer. As a result, it is likely that they have some form of tracking device to prevent multiple signatures from being posted by the same person (Akin to ballot stuffing). It also seems to prevent initial use of the program in some cases (you and I being two examples of this).
In my case, I did the following:
1. Rebooted the computer.
2. Ran adaware and spybot
3. Deleted cookies.
4. Switched my browser from AOL to IE.
I was then able to add my name to the petition but I still wasn't able to add my husband's name (with his permission) at the same time, even though he has a completely different e-mail address.
I plan to repeat the above process when I have the time and see if I can add him later.
Hope this helps.
If that doesn't help, try going to www.webpetitions.com. Our petition is on the list: BETTER ENFORCEMENT OF SPEED LIMITS: MAPLEWOOD.
If that doesn't work I've set up an e-mail account: stopspeeding@comcast.net. E-mail me your name, (street address not required), e-mail address and comments and I'll hold on to them for later presentation to the Town Council
If none of the above works for you, I am in the process of trying to get a P.O. Box so folks can mail postcards if they are unable to add their name any other way, or don't have access to the internet. Will post more info on that when I have it.
Thanks. |
Old and Gray
Citizen
Username: Pastmyprime
Post Number: 233
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Monday, October 17, 2005 - 8:50 pm: | |
Joan, there was a great article in the Sunday ledger a few weeks (maybe only one)ago about the Township of Randolph doing a comprenhensive traffic study that determined what areas and at what times needed increased enforcement. Long story short, they have more summonses and less accidents: safer roads.
I think the problem with Maplewood and South Orange is we have a diverse public and police enforcement in this area always brings the race card to the table regardless if it is sustained or not...Also there is this theory that since we all pay so much in taxes that the police are harrassing Tax paying residents.
I would support a full out assualt on speeders by the police 24/7, but I don't think there are enough cops in Essex County to tackle this and other aggressive drivers, and still try to keep crime under control. Maybe if we all left five minutes earlier and did the right thing behind the wheel we wouldn' t have to even address this issue, but people are self centered and only concerned about themselves these days. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 10144
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, October 17, 2005 - 8:57 pm: | |
O&G, is that really true? I honestly don't know. I mean, are the police really afraid to give summonses because they'll be charged as racist? If that were the case, they couldn't do their jobs at all, because I'd imagine that about 25% of the crimes and summonses involve blacks (since they make up 25% of the local population).
|
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 1842
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 18, 2005 - 9:48 am: | |
E-mailed a letter to all of the members of the Town Council, with a cc: to the police chief, this morning. Here is a portion of the reply I've already received from Kathleen Leventhal:
"I've seen the MOL concerns and know from my own neighborhood (Clinton School) and from a visit to a Block Party in the Tuscan neighborhood near the Hilton Library that the issue of speeding is of major concern to our residents.
Our engineer, Mr. Calbi is proposing a traffic study of our town for 2006. As the 1006 budget process is beginning, hearing from you and others is important."
Happy to report we're up to 114 names on the petition. Looking for ways to spread the word even further. |
ajc
Citizen
Username: Ajc
Post Number: 4240
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 18, 2005 - 9:50 am: | |
"...are the police really afraid to give summonses because they'll be charged as racist?"
Impossible! If you do the crime, you do the time! I can't believe this would ever be a policy of our police department... |
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