Gant & Missy Bowman Victim Impact Letter and Demand for Action re; 4 Hit-and-Run deaths in Melrose in 6 months
This message was authored and submitted to City of Oakland representatives by Missy and Gant Bowman who live in Melrose. They have authorized sharing this email with the public to help provide transparency for our requests and to inspire others to join our letter writing campaign to end hit-and-run deaths in Melrose.
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From: Marissa Bowman
Date: Tue, Oct 8, 2019 at 12:28 PM
Subject: Speeding on Foothill kills, our community demands action
To: <akirkpatrick@oaklandca.gov>, <rrusso@oaklandca.gov>, Thao, Sheng <sthao@oaklandca.gov>, <NGallo@oaklandca.gov>, <rkaplan@oaklandca.gov>, <snosakhare@oaklandca.gov>, <lschaaf@oaklandnet.com>
Attention Those with Power to Act,
My family and I are living in the Melrose neighborhood of Oakland and are homeowners on Foothill Blvd. As you are aware, extensive data prove Zip Code determines life expectancy in Oakland.
Our community has long-suffered social and economic inequities, lack of financial and infrastructure investment, and lack of municipal protections demonstrating respect for life outcomes in our neighborhood.
I’m writing today specifically to express my heartfelt grief for our neighbors who’ve died over the last 6 months. Our community members were killed by hit-and-run drivers on the very street we live on.
I’m writing to demand measurable action be taken to protect the people of Melrose. Below is a list of tragic events that have occurred in and around our community due to the rampant speeding and lack of pedestrian safety on Foothill Blvd.
● April 14, 2019: Alma Vasquez and her 6-year old son Angel Garcia were both killed by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the street at 26th and Foothill Blvd
● Sept 17, 2019: James Brown was killed by a hit-and-run driver while he was crossing the street at Cole Street and Foothill Blvd
● Oct 1, 2019: An unnamed mother was killed, and her 4-year old girl hospitalized by a hit-and-run driver while they were crossing the street at 22nd and Foothill
The Problem
Foothill Blvd. is used like a highway, full of dangerous speeding, lane splitting and swerving. It is the Public Sector’s responsibility to not allow this many transportation-related, life-threatening, hazards build up in a few neighborhoods. It is the Public Sector’s role to fix high-collision areas that frequently end in constituent deaths.
The Solution
● Fast track the Melrose Streetscape project, budgeted 10 years ago and re-budgeted again in 2019-2021, to calm traffic on Foothill and Bancroft Boulevards - breaking ground by Dec. 1, 2019
● Focus on pedestrian safety - outside of police speeding protection, our neighborhood needs lighted crosswalks and additional stop signs and stop lights
● Address Melrose Community Council membership October25th and November13thfrom 6:30 -8:30pm tos peak with neighbors directly and let us know you hear us and have a clear plan to fix these threats to our community
Expected Outcomes
● Improved quality of life, life outcomes, and increased life expectancy for constituents of Zip Code 94601
● Decrease traffic system-related casualties and fatalities in our historically underserved community
● Respect for speed limit enforcement and safety right the pedestrians of East Oakland
Call to Action
● Name a Melrose Streetscape Project Manager and schedule bi-weekly meetings directly with Melrose membership to garner community input
● Post visually obvious OPD, CHP, and DOT resources around the Melrose community to stop reckless driving
● Present clear proposals in writing and/or in person to Melrose Community Members at every monthly meeting in 2019 and 2020 until the Street Scape is complete
● Commit to Vision Zero to eliminate traffic fatalities in Oakland
There is clear action for those in power to take to calm Foothill Blvd. If not now after these recent fatalities, when?
Concerned for our communities’ safety,
Marissa & Gant Bowman
5419 Foothill Blvd
Oakland, CA 94601