N. Roosevelt Blvd: An Open Letter to Commissioners

Dear Mayor Cates and Commissioner Rossi:

Gentlemen:

I have seen the resolution you have co-sponsored (#15 on Tuesday’s agenda) essentially asking FDOT to reconsider implementing two-way traffic on the boulevard, citing “public safety concerns”.

A few prefaces.  First, I assume you all understand that if two way traffic is not reinstituted soon it may well be the death knell for many of the boulevard businesses.  Donna Nelson of Imagination Station made this clear to Secretary Prassad on August 6th and it was in response to her plea that Secretary Prassad boldly decided to reinstute the two-way traffic by Labor Day.

It is most important that you realize the consequences to the busineeses–your constituents and in many cases your friends–if the resolution proceeds.

That being said we do not believe that any of you are insensitive to the needs of the businesses.

But, with all due respect, gentlemen, you are wrong.

I would ask you to send me your very specific concerns about the public safety concerns associated with two-way traffic.

[In my opinion] the real public safety issue is with the continuation of the one-way traffic.  The City and FDOT are fortunate that to date no one has been killed or seriously injured by a motorist proceeding the wrong way.  In fct, one of my fellow employees at Domino’s was one of the first injured when his car was hit by a car going the wrong way.   It was fortunate indeed that he was not seriously injured considering the damage done to his vehucle.  And I am aware of an accident with a scooter near Checkers in which it took a lengthy time for the ambulance to arrive given the necessary detour.  i have been in a vehicle when the driver, inadvertently, turned right out of a boulevard business.

The one-way traffic is an accident waiting to happen.

What are the safety issues with two-way traffic?  None that I can see.

If it is a question of emergency response time, if the boulevard does not work for emergency vehicles they can continue using First to Flagler.  They will not be foreclosed from doing so by the two way traffic.  Moreover it is probable that the First to Flagler route will be less congested if Roosevelt is too way.

If you are concerned about public safety you should be leading the cheeing squad for the decision of Secretary Prassad.

But again if I have somehow missed the public safety issues that concern you, would you be kind enough to enunciate those to us?  (By blind copy this letter is receiving wide distribution in the business community.)

Although I cannot of course speak for the Blue Paper I suspect it may well want to publicize your response.

Finally,  a question addressed to Mayor Cates:  would it not have been courteous to advise the business owners that this resolution would be brought up?  You of course have a list of all the boulevard businesses.  It seems like public notice is an important public policy consideration given the importance of the resolution.

Mayor, Mr Rossi, thank you for your attention and expected response.

Tim Gratz

Note from the Editor:

Mr. Gratz informs us that he wrote to Mayor Cates and Commissioner Rossi on August 14th asking them to be very specific about what their “safety concerns” were with two-way traffic and having not heard from them renewed that request on August 15th.

As we go to press Mr. Gratz advises us that neither Mayor Cates nor Commissioner Rossi has replied with any specific safety concerns.