Roy Exum
Jeffrey Cross is a community activist in the very finest way. He has no idea that I and many others have followed what he has done, and tirelessly I might add, to enhance the St. Elmo neighborhood at the foot of Lookout Mountain. I wish this world had a million Jeffrey Crosses. So when he wrote in protest of my Monday story, “We Want Our City Back,” I was more than eager to read his view and soon realized parts of yesterday’s opinion were far off-base and not true.
While I am sticking to many points I made, backed by dozens of emails of others who loathe what is being done on Broad Street and elsewhere, I readily admit I was very wrong to say there was no public input, that the City Council was not included in the mess we now have before us, and seemed to degrade at some good and noble city government employees that certainly didn’t deserve it.
I am sorry and I apologize. In addition, I will strive to do better.
I want you to read the email Jeffrey sent to me. While I have edited Jeffrey’s letter for the sake of brevity, I have tried to make sure I have included all of his main points, his factual information and his passion for our city. He cited about a dozen instances of public announcements, most of which I have omitted but recognize as quite valid, and he had the decency to say some kind things about me and my opinions, which are moot in the face of the lesson he gives to not just me but all of us. Here is the edited version of the email he sent:
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I've never responded to any of your columns before, but I just can't let your column from this morning go, because it is extremely unfair and incorrect. There were plenty of public input sessions about the Broad Street bike lanes! I went to at least one myself, but as I recall there were several others that I didn't have time to attend (as I was focused more on participating in similar meetings specific to St Elmo). I also attended at least one City Council meeting that covered this project.
Here's an announcement about one of the input sessions: http://www.chattanoogan.com/2014/10/20/286729/Public-Input-Sessions-Set-For-Virginia.aspx
Here's a story about Mayor Berke's support for the US DOT's Mayor's Challenge for Safer Streets:
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2015/mar/24/chattanoogsteps-pedestrisafety-challenge/294896/
(Nine more addition news stories/public announcements were also cited.)
So yes, there were many opportunities for public input! Yes, City Council did approve this plan! I'm sorry if you weren't paying attention, but what else were we (i.e. those of us who were following and paying attention because we want bike facilities) supposed to do to help you find out? Stop by your house with the maps and charts and give you a personal overview?
I know a number of city employees, and some of them are among the smartest people and hardest workers that I know, who really care about the impact they are making today and for the future in our city. I have been extremely impressed with the Berke team and have seen a number of areas where the administration is working to involve citizens/residents to exchange information - i.e. getting information about city projects to the neighborhoods, and getting information about what is important to the neighborhoods back into the planning process.
I'm not going to try to convince you that the bike lanes project has been executed by extremely smart people who have done their research, followed "best practice" guidelines and have reasons to believe that they represent a very forward-thinking enhancement to Chattanooga. I say that this is all true, but I respect your right to disagree with me.
The designers could still be wrong, but I trust them on this. You are most certainly free to disagree, and I'll even acknowledge that you could turn out to be right. But please don't call this "buffoonery", refer to the engineers as "morons", and especially don't spread the misinformation that this was forced on you or others without any opportunity for discussion.
So basically, I feel that you owe an apology - or at least a public retraction - to Mayor Berke and the Department of Transportation, for stating that this was done with no discussion or approval. That is just a flat-out lie on the part of your source(s) and conveyed by you to your readers. I have no problem bringing the project up as a subject of discussion, but let's keep it honest!
Jeffrey Cross / St Elmo
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I am delighted that Jeffrey shared this with me and happy to make a public retraction. I am happier that Jeffrey has shared a positive view of the project. Nothing is healthier than public discourse, besides admitting when you are wrong, and, as I have often stated, my detractors teach the best lessons. I deeply appreciate the time, patience and trouble he went to correct my shortcomings.
That said, I still feel the bike lanes are an abomination, thrust upon us in the same way the parking “authority,” the emissions testing, the cash-soaked but failing Violence Reduction Initiative, and other examples of perceived stupidity. I feel these things are very detrimental to our community and lifestyle. In a tree-hugging sort of way to become “progressive,” I believe our local free-thinker society has actually become more unfriendly to the majority of their neighbors. Anytime you build walls or barriers at the expense of many, the outcome is always a disappointment.
As you may guess, my email inbox has overflowed and I must say – in candor – that Jeffrey’s email was the lone dissenter. Here is a sampling of others, which – combined with the overwhelming poll on Chattanoogan.com – should cause our officials to think a little harder about what the majority of people in Chattanooga really want. I have omitted the names of those who wrote the following, both to assure privacy and the fact I did not receive their permission to make public some of my personal emails:
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I've been working (and driving) downtown since 1977. I'm also a cyclist. None of the cyclists I know want this absurd bike lane added.
I can tell you from years of riding experience that this is not going to improve safety; it will make it more dangerous for all. The people who came up with this idea aren't cyclists (and they must not have to drive downtown, either); must be some bureaucrats with a pile of our tax money and no common sense.
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RIGHT ON!!! And try to drive down (or up) Frazier Avenue from 4-7 PM, or 8-9 AM.....Thanks, Andy Berke …
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We have almost quit going downtown because of the parking and out-of-town people do not know that everywhere you park, you will have to pay, especially after 6:00. That is not right. We shouldn’t have to pay on the weekends either.
Like you said, they want everyone to come downtown, but they have cut off a lot of the streets, and if they would take the money and fix all of the potholes, it would save a lot of hassle.
What can be done since they have already torn up Broad Street to even change it back? If that was fixed and (the city) would not charge so much for parking at the meters, (especially) on the weekends, maybe a lot more people would be coming downtown.
I thought that was what the city wanted everyone to do, come down and enjoy all of the activities, but when you can’t find a parking place, why bother? I hope that something good will turn out good this.
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I agree with your article. To add to it, I have to say that I think these people on their expensive bicycles need to have a license and obey the rules of the road the same as car operators. The city has wasted enough money on bike lanes. The bicyclists are a danger to traffic.
I hate seeing one when I am out driving. When I've heard that a rider has been hit my heart goes out to the driver that hit them, not to them. Although I could go on I have said enough so my rant is over.
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You have hit it on the head!!! I can’t agree more with everything that you have said. I think you would be an awesome candidate for mayor! We need someone who can stand up to all of this nonsense.
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I read your article this morning. Just wanted to say as a member of this city, I totally agree with you! This city is becoming more about bikers than any of the hundreds who have to drive around them! It drives me crazy!
I have emailed our mayor, with no results. He obviously doesn't care what goes on here. This city is becoming a mess! I was downtown recently, trying to walk in the mess and it made me wonder what is going on! I personally have never cared for Mr. Berke, and this current situation is not helping!
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I agree 100% with your assessment of what going on. I think if you are going to ride your bike on city or county roads you should have a license and a vehicle tag. I tired of being pushed off the road or having to stop for several bicyclists taking their time on downtown streets. It's a small percentage of the population that rides bikes on the street.”
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After all is said, I am adamant when I state I still want our city and my country back. In a Gallup poll released Monday, nearly half (49 percent) of Americans believe that government is “an immediate threat to the rights and freedoms of ordinary citizens.” Further, 29 percent would support a military coup in the United States. Of the respondents, 19 percent believe government is “too big” and that there are “too many laws.” Another 15 percent believes government violates personal freedoms and civil liberties. It is quite obvious we need to change some things.
royexum@aol.com