IÕd like to welcome all of the new members to the TLNA Council. It was great seeing new faces along with the veteran council members at the last meeting. I look forward to working with the council and especially with the committee chairs. Please contact me so we can work together for what is best for the neighborhood during the upcoming year.

One of the greatest challenges facing our neighborhood in the coming years will be the impact of reconstruction of East Washington Avenue from Blair Street east to Thierer Road, starting in 1999 and continuing through 2003. The work affects all Second district neighborhoods. ItÕs a huge project which will unfortunately divert substantial traffic onto East Johnson, Gorham, Mifflin and Dayton Streets as well as the many cross streets in between. Both strategic and technical advisory committees are being formed to provide guidance to the consultantsÕ study, including public input on future characteristics of the roadway and its impact on and ability to meet the needs of adjacent development, both commercial and residential. The process will include neighborhood meetings, a newsletter, and two public information meetings. Data collection began in December and the study is scheduled for completion by June, 1999. IÕll try my best to keep you informed; meanwhile, watch for developments as they proceed!

This fall the city Council passed its Operating and Capital Budgets which include several important initiatives for our neighborhoods:

· Establishment of a Traffic Enforcement Safety Team. Seven officers will be assigned solely to reducing speeding throughout the city. Also, increased funding for the Traffic Calming project.

· Major reconstruction of new sanitary sewer under the Yahara River, from North Thornton to First St., below Thornton, and between E. Washington Ave. and Johnson, is expected to reduce sewer flooding in the Baldwin/Elizabeth St. area.

· Expansion of facilities at Hawthorne Library and East Public Health Center and siting both on separate floors of the present AldiÕs building, East Washington Avenue.

· Construction of bikepaths: one from North Dickinson to East Johnson and a Demetral field bikepath (Upham to Sixth Street).

The Council also blocked amendments that would have cut support for AIDS Support Network, the beginning of 1999 Living Wage funding, and tenant-landlord mediation services provided by the Tenant Resource Center.

-Barbara Vedder

249-8428

[email protected]


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