For the past 13 years, Scott Camil has marked Memorial Day weekend by creating a display of temporary tombstones to honor American soldiers killed in the ongoing Afghanistan and Iraq Wars. This year, the Memorial Mile event is being held virtually on the Veterans for Peace website. It was released t
Waldo Road poses threat to Gainesville’s homeless pedestrians
A total of 38 pedestrians and bicyclists were hit in the last five years Graphic by Alex Brown
High speeds on Waldo Road in Gainesville turn crossing four lanes into a treacherous journey.
Twenty-one pedestrians and 17 bicyclists were hit on the state road from January 2016 to March 2021, according to data from the Gainesville Police Department. Three additional pedestrians were hit in the parking lot of the Circle K at 20 NE Waldo Rd during the same time frame.
Eight pedestrians and bicyclists died in the crashes. Seven more suffered incapacitating injuries wounds that kept them from doing normal activities.
Transportation is a key part of addressing a wide range of problems, from climate change to racial and socioeconomic disparities.
An accessible and reliable mode of transportation makes the difference in whether senior citizens are able to reach medical appointments, high school students are able to attend after-school programs and lower-income residents are able to get to jobs. But additional cars cause traffic congestion and increase emissions that contribute to a warming planet.
Gainesvilleâs Regional Transit System provides a way for residents to reach their destinations without putting more vehicles on the road. Local officials need to expand access to RTS buses and ensure they better serve the residents who need them most.
In a 20-minute speech, Poe shared the city’s accomplishments and failures, with occasional cameos from city commissioners and local leaders. He discussed topics from homelessness to social justice.
WUFT News fact checked and added context to some of the statements the city included in the address:
(Mayor Lauren Poe:) In the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd, organizers worked cooperatively to work with city community members, including the Gainesville Police Department, to hold peaceful and powerful demonstrations, continuing Gainesville’s long-standing commitment to protecting our neighbors’ right to peacefully protest.
Fact check: Gainesville was one of about 30 U.S. cities that held a “March for Our Freedom” protest in May following Floyd’s death. Organizers urged the community to stay peaceful and use the event as an opportunity to spark awareness of police brutality. After the event, William John Connelly drove his car into protesters, according to police.
In the meantime, staff can analyze what it would cost if all bus rides were free, City Commissioner Harvey Ward said.
Ward said the estimated annual loss in revenues from giving the young and seniors a free ride only adds up to about $230,000, which isn’t much when compared to the city’s larger budgets.
But he said eliminating bus fares for those age groups “speaks directly to equity.
The no-fares plan could help young people get to the library or to part-time jobs, and could help seniors get to a doctor or other key destinations, Ward said.
Ward said this is not the first time the fare waivers have been discussed and it is time to implement the concept.