Sample Letters

The following letters are available for you to use. Adapt them to say what’s important to you and personalize them as appropriate. The most important thing is that YOU send a letter to the City Council!

Addresses:

Penny Riley
City Manager
priley@poway.org
P.O. Box 789
Poway, CA 92074-0789

Don Higginson
Mayor
dhigginson@poway.org
P.O. Box 789
Poway, CA 92074-0789

Merrilee Boyack
Councilmember
mboyack@poway.org
P.O. Box 789
Poway, CA 92074-0789

Jim Cunningham
Deputy Mayor
jcunningham@poway.org
P.O. Box 789
Poway, CA 92074-0789

Dave Grosch
Councilmember
dgrosch@poway.org
P.O. Box 789
Poway, CA 92074-0789

John Mullin
Councilmember
jmullin@poway.org
P.O. Box 789
Poway, CA 92074-0789

 

Sample Letter:

Dear Poway City Councilmembers,

I am writing to share my strong support for the installation of a 4-way stop sign at the intersection of Valle Verde Road and Solera/Vinter. I respectfully request that the City accelerate the process to implement both stop signs and the traffic calming measures that were approved nearly a year ago.

As you know on September 15, Sharlotte Kingston of Cooperage Court in Vineland Hills died from injuries sustained after being struck by a car while she was walking her dog near along Valle Verde. This follows the death of a teen driver in 2010 and the injury of an 11-year-old boy who was struck by a car as he walked across Valle Verde in a well-marked crosswalk.

The City’s Traffic Department and Traffic Committee confirmed excessive speeds and blind turns along Valle Verde. Sight lines when turning left onto Valle Verde from either Solera or Vinter do not meet the minimum standards.

Neighborhood children cannot walk to school or play with friends who live on the opposite side of Valle Verde. Many residents drive from the west side of Valle Verde to the community swimming pool just on the other side of the street. Residents are afraid to exercise or even walk their dogs along this busy street. And anyone who regularly drives on Solera, Vinter or Valle Verde has seen numerous “near misses.”

Discussion around this project have gone too long. We need to stop talking and take action now for the safety of our children and our neighborhood.

Sincerely,

XXX

 

Sample Letter:

Dear Poway City Councilmembers,

I am one of the 20+ homeowners who lives on Vinter Way in Vineland Hills. I am writing to share my continuing concern about the safety of our intersection with Valle Verde. I know you are being flooded with calls and emails after yesterday’s accidents but I have to share how disappointed and angry I am that this dangerous intersection STILL has not been addressed.

Nearly four years ago, I joined neighbors to ask the city for help. Our discussions after a neighborhood child on foot was struck by a car in the intersection. The intersection is dangerous…the City has documented its blind corners and excessive speed.

In August a neighbor told me that the City was putting the project out to bid in September and October for a November/December start date. Today I am told that it has not gone out to bid and won’t for some time.

Everyday I feel that my life is in danger when I simply try to leave my street to go to work, take my children to school or go to the grocery store. Now, two more accidents and injuries have occurred. My son cannot walk to Chaparral despite living less than a half mile from school.

Please provide me – and our neighborhood – an update! If we are going to be hurt or even die on our own street corner, at least tell us why.

Sincerely,

Kelly Faley

 

Sample Letter:

Dear Mayor Higginson and Poway City Council Members,

I am a concerned parent of a child that attends Chaparral Elementary school.  As our city representatives, I am reaching out to you to find out the best way to open up a new dialogue with you and our neighborhood of concerned (and frankly outraged) parents and community members that fear for their lives daily trying to cross or maneuver the above referenced intersection.   I see the City Council meeting is cancelled for tomorrow and I am wondering what we can do prior to the October 4th meeting, to try to resolve this issue.  I work full-time as well as care for my four children, so I am not interested nor do I know about the workings of city politics.  I am lost in what we should do “next” to see about getting temporary stop signs installed until the work on the approved “traffic calming project” is begun.   I am not interested in listening to finger pointing or understanding why this issue has been delayed over and over again.  It does not matter to me.  What matters is to prevent another accident or death on the Valle Verde street.

How do we open up a dialogue with the City on this?  Do I need to gather signatures on a petition to request two inexpensive stop signs, or does the laundry list of accidents and deaths on Valle Verde speak for itself?

I have been told that a single stop sign costs just a couple hundred dollars.  We need TWO more signs installed.  I believe the entire project would cost less than $1,000.  If I need to start a fundraising campaign for this effort so that the City budget does not need to be involved, I am happy to start to spearhead this.  In fact, I would be willing to upfront the money TODAY if I could get stop signs installed TODAY!

Please respond and let me know what it is that can be done ASAP.  Is there a way to have a community meeting about this, rather than having the media involved?  Can this be organized SOON?

Thank you for your immediate attention to this issue,

Jody Campillo