Meetings
Convenience Over Safety: Reverse Lanes on the 7s
Posted on 12/15/10 by DPJ Staff » 2 Comments
Downtowners, commuters and visitors alike have ranted about the reverse lanes on the 7s for years. After yesterday’s recommendations from the Ad Hoc Task Force charged with studying the safety and effectiveness of these “suicide” lanes, Vice Mayor Michael Nowakowski sent out the letter below. What are your thoughts on the reverse lanes, and what should be done to keep us safe while managing traffic flow in and out of Downtown Phoenix?
— DPJ
Dear friends and neighbors,
Today, my colleagues and I at City Council considered the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Task Force that studied the issue of the reverse lanes on 7th Avenue and 7th Street.
For many years as a private citizen, I disliked the effect that the reverse lanes had on traffic and neighborhoods, and for the past few years I’ve had the privilege of fighting the reverse lanes as your councilman. My staff and I know intimately the problems with speeding, the confusion, the cut-through traffic and the accidents and near-misses that threaten people along these roads. I’ve received thousands of calls, emails, and letters about the negative effect of reverse lanes on our community.
At today’s meeting, however, convenience was chosen over safety and quality of life. While it’s promising that the City will pursue enforcement and education along the reverse lanes, my hope has always been to eliminate the reverse lanes and put safety first. I’d like to thank Councilman Tom Simplot for his long-time efforts to eliminate the reverse lanes, and my colleagues Councilwoman Thelda Williams and Mayor Phil Gordon for their willingness to consider the well-being of our neighborhoods.
I would also like to extend a big thanks to all of the members of the task force we seated for their service, and the hundreds of Phoenicians who participated in the public hearing process regardless of how they feel about the reverse lanes. A city is only as great as its people, and we have the best people.
Your friend,
Michael Nowakowski
Vice Mayor and District 7 resident
Sneak a Peek of Vitamin T at RadiatePHX
Posted on 11/29/10 by DPJ Staff » No Comments
RadiatePHX has a habit of visiting the newest culinary destinations in Downtown Phoenix and this month is no exception.
Tuesday night, Chef Aaron May will open the doors to Vitamin T, and you’re invited.
The menu features a delectable selection of tortas, tamales and tacos, in homage to its street food inspiration. And yes, another ‘T’, tequila, is also in house.
Space is limited, so please RSVP. Oh, and all who purchase one of those mouth-watering eats mentioned above get a cerveza on the house. Enticed yet?
RadiatePHX runs from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Vitamin T is located at 1 E. Washington St. at CityScape. RSVP at radiatephx.com or on Facebook.
You’re Invited to the State of Downtown
Posted on 10/29/10 by DPJ Staff » No Comments
Mayor Phil Gordon invites you to paint Downtown Red and celebrate all that Downtown has to offer at the 7th annual State of Downtown event.
Gordon, whose longtime focus on Downtown progress warrants this annual event aside from his State of the City address, will provide an update on the economic outlook of our city core, as well as key attendees in on various projects and initiatives currently underway throughout Downtown Phoenix.
Come out for your Downtown update, but stay to enjoy samples of the some of the best restaurants in the Downtown area and musical talent from the Phoenix Symphony, as well as one of Phoenix’s best local bands, The Sugar Thieves.
Oh, one other point of interest: the first issue of DPJ magazine debuts at the event! Swing by to get your copy.
Date: Thursday, November 4, 2010
Time: 5 to 7 p.m.
Location: CityScape, 1 E. Washington St.
Get there: METRO Light Rail is recommended (stations at Central/Washington and 1st Ave/Jefferson). Paid parking is available at CityScape and nearby parking garages.
Remember: No City funds were used for this event!
Movement for Downtown Dog Park Underway
Posted on 10/25/10 by Si Robins » 7 Comments
Whether or not you have met Sean Sweat face to face, chances are you’ve seen him devoting his time to various Downtown-related causes, working seemingly around the clock — by his own will, not that of an organization — to spread awareness to his Downtown Phoenix neighbors.
Sweat was one of the main voices against the demolition of the now-rubbled Sahara just south of Taylor Street between 1st and 2nd streets, and he’s still championing an alternative to the Sheraton Hotel parking lot proposed to take over the land: a Downtown dog park. Sweat weighs in:
“People are moving to Downtown Phoenix more than you might expect, but they aren’t doing it to see more asphalt parking lots,” he says. “They’re doing it under the expectation and written promise from the City Council (Downtown Phoenix Plan, 2008) that the residential vibrancy is a focus and a goal. Another 90,000-square-foot asphalt parking lot in a downtown that has 14,000 excess parking spaces violates the public’s trust in the City’s intentions and urban planning competence. With over 800 dog owners within walking distance of this site, many which have made the lifestyle choice to be car-free, we are owed a centralized and walkable dog park instead of a private Sheraton Hotel parking lot.”
A rendering of the Downtown dog park
A hearing for the matter has been scheduled for noon on Thursday, November 4 at the Phoenix City Council Chambers. Up until that point, Sweat will be collecting signatures of residents that support the dog park plan. Follow Sweat on Twitter to see where he’ll be taking his petition next.
Number of parking spots within a 1/4-mile radius of the Sheraton Hotel. Map by Sean Sweat.
Residents within a 1/2-mile radius of the proposed dog park. Map by Sean Sweat.
If You Go: Downtown Dog Park Hearing (aka “Love Dogs, Not Cars”)
Thursday, November 4, noon
Phoenix City Council Chambers, 200 W. Jefferson St. (light rail at Central/Washington or 1st Ave/Jefferson)
Find more information and RSVP on Facebook
Phoenix Needs Optimists and Catalysts and TEDx Has Them!
Posted on 10/25/10 by Yuri Artibise » No Comments
November is right around the corner, and that means it’s time for TEDxPhoenix 2010! TEDxPhoenix will host its second event on Saturday, November 6, 2010, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Eight KAET PBS Studios in Downtown Phoenix.
This year’s event is building off the theme for TED2010 — “What the World Needs Now” — and what they feel the world and Phoenix needs now are more optimists and catalysts.
That’s why this year, the organizers are bringing us a full day of thought-provoking talks by some of the Valley’s most inspirational and innovative thinkers and doers. These are people who have spoken at PopTech, survived civil war, made the list of the Valley’s most intriguing individuals, championed local movements, represented the Navajo Nation, made regular appearances on the Science Channel, have spoken at the Googleplex, and authored books on science, entrepreneurship and design.
Speakers include:
Dr. Lawrence Krauss, Jany Deng, Kimber Lanning, Jay Rogers, Bob Grossfeld, Prasad Boradkar, Pamela Slim, Jolyana Bitsuie, Margaret Regan, Syed Toufeeq Ahmed, Eric Torres, Nina Miller, Goran Konjevod and Helene Neville, as well as a performance by Dry River Yacht Club.
For a full list of TEDxPhoenix 2010 speakers, please visit the speaker page. In addition, selected TEDTalks videos will showcase some of the world’s most renowned speakers.
TEDxPhoenix is the Phoenix metro’s opportunity to help make our local and global communities a better place through big ideas worth sharing and doing.
— Tomas Carrillo, TEDxPhoenix Curator
In addition to witnessing these great talks, attendees will also be treated to the most TED-like event that Arizona has seen so far. Organizers work around the clock to make sure that attendees get to experience the electric atmosphere of TED from the TED-like badges all the way down to the free coffee, snacks, drinks and gift bags. In addition, attendees get to enjoy a free catered lunch in Civic Space Park.
All of this is not being done to simply pamper attendees, but to promote collaboration and the exchange of ideas. This is an event focused on ideas worth sharing, spreading and doing!
Tickets for the event run $50 and are first come, first served, so once they run out, they’re gone! In addition, all proceeds go toward paying for event costs, as TEDxPhoenix is a not-for-profit event run by unpaid volunteers. If $50 seems high, consider that it’s less than 1% of the cost of the TED Conference and less than half the cost of most local conferences.
TICKETS: http://tedxphoenix.ticketleap.com/tedxphoenix-2010/
We hope you will join us for TEDxPhoenix 2010 and take part in an event that is quickly becoming a global laboratory for the spreading of ideas, as well as becoming part of a global revolution in education.
About TEDx
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, not-for-profit, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At TEDx events, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group.
The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including TEDxPhoenix, are self-organized independent events operated under license from TED.
About TEDxPhoenix
x = independently organized event
TEDxPhoenix is a not-for-profit community organized and run event. A team of volunteers plans and stages the event, and support is sought through donations from local Valley businesses and organizations. The goal of TEDxPhoenix is to help spread ideas capable of changing the Valley as well as the world.
To learn more about TEDxPhoenix, see the TEDxPhoenix website where you can also sign up to receive email updates, or join the TEDxPhoenix community by following TEDxPhoenix on Twitter or the TEDxPhoenix Facebook page.
If you would like more information about TEDxPhoenix, please call Tomas Carrillo at 480.329.5526 or email Tomas at tomas@tedxphoenix.com.
