Public Works sidestepped City Council for work on Mecartney Road
To the Editor:
As Alameda residents we are certainly aware of the many recent street alterations made by the City under headings of Vision Zero policy or calmed streets, etc. This is most interesting, since our City’s rate of traffic fatalities and severe injuries per 100,000 was 51% lower than the rate in Alameda County and 66% lower than the California rate, as of 2021.
Prior to these major streets like Central Avenue, Grand Street, and Gibbons Drive undergoing significant change by Public Works, every project came before our legislative body, the City Council, for approval or disapproval. The public had the opportunity to weigh in and that the public did. That procedure was appropriate in that the City Council, our elected representatives, made the final decision after hearing from the public. And the public had the right to appeal that decision if they were unhappy.
However, in the singular case of Mecartney Road, a major street on Bay Farm Island, Public Works sidestepped this established procedure of first obtaining City Council approval. Public Works also sidestepped advising the public within so many hundred feet of the project. That should have been done. Nor did Public Works do a bona fide Traffic Study which would have shown various alternative solutions if in fact it was proven by data that an actual traffic problem existed on Mecartney.
So, Public Works began their work on Mecartney without City Council authorization.
Recently, local drivers and motorists became aware of the prospective removal of one lane plus removal of right- and left-hand turns plus the narrowing of the one lane, plus adding a third bike path, and began sending numerous emails to the City with their objections.
Unfortunately, regardless of receiving many objecting emails, the City Council made no move to take up the issue, and Public Works continued with their work on Mecartney.
However, recently Councilmember Tony Daysog made a formal referral request to have the Mecartney issue put on the City Council calendar for a future hearing. Now, the referral comes before the Council next Tuesday, 1/20/26 Agenda Item 10A.
The Council meeting begins at 7 p.m. City Hall is at the corner of Oak Street and Santa Clara Avenue.
In order for the referral to pass, two more Councilmembers must support Mr. Daysog’s referral. If you agree that it’s dangerous and/or bad public policy and taxpayer expensive to make significant changes on our streets without prior Council authorization plus public input, will you take two minutes to voice/write your concerns to the City Council. After all, it could be your street next time.
At this time, just voicing/writing your support to have the Mecartney issue fully heard at a future date is sufficient. The City email addresses are linked here. It’s really important to send a quick email.
Thank you,
Reyla Graber, Ed Sing, Maureen Kraw, Rhonda Richardson and many more.
Editor’s Note: According to the City webpage for the Mecartney Road/Island Drive project, “The City Council was asked to approve the roundabout concept on July 5 as a consent item #5-F; however, the agenda item was withdrawn.”
‘I Like the Rain’
By Arthur Lenhardt
It’s raining outside, really hard!
I like the rain, don’t you?
It makes each one of us adjust
To how we’ll make it through.
I cover up and take a walk
To watch how droplets bend
The petals of my neighbor’s rose,
Which then spring back again.
Some heavy rains can bring a change
For which we’re not prepared
While lighter ones can just sneak in
And catch us unawares.
Sometimes I feel our lives do need
A solid, good downpour,
To wake us from our somnolence
So we can hear the roar
Of worlds that need our help and care
To keep on being free
And, like that petal, then spring back,
To be what they should be.
So, let the rain come pouring, now,
As we all know it should,
Washing away impediments
To make our whole world good.
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