First… Thank you!
I appreciate everyone who has emailed or caught up with me on the trails, at the gym or attending Golden events with encouragement for my candidacy, as well as sharing your thoughts on how to preserve and enhance our city!
Last week City Council approved Golden’s first Transportation Master Plan to codify our community values. In part this aims to ensure the reliability of bike and pedestrian connections (so they remain open during construction).
On the very same day, the City suddenly announced the unexpected and immediate closure of the priority pedestrian and bicycle trail and bridge over Highway 58 from the North neighborhoods into downtown Golden.
Not only was the bridge closed without warning… the closure will last more than 30 days!
The trail is arguably the most heavily trafficked north-south route for non-motorized commuting and recreation in the City, including for Mitchell Elementary students.
This isn’t simply an inconvenience, it’s a critical safe route to schools for our families!
As residents, we have clearly prioritized the opportunity to not only have good streets for cars, but also reliable options for residents and students to get across Golden safely on foot and bicycles – for work, school and recreation.
Core Values
It feels legitimate to ask whether this action is consistent with our core values.
- Where is the accountability to ensure our City government lives by our stated values?
- Why wasn’t appropriate notice given to the community?
- Why can the Developer close this trail at minimal cost with major disruption?
- Why are the Developer and City not required to consider alternative safe routes to school and work for residents?
- And was this closure truly necessary at all?
I have shared my thoughts with City Council and encourage you to do the same. (CouncilComments@cityofgolden.net)
If elected I commit to represent all Ward 4 residents and engage in thoughtful, respectful, and critical questioning about how the City thinks of transportation and other issues important to us.
Regards,
BilFish
—William “BilFish” Fisher – Candidate for Golden City Council Ward 4
Special Election Reminder: Ballots will be mailed out starting April 6th for this mail-in ballot only election and must be returned before April 28th.
Email me at bill@williamfisher.com and visit www.WilliamFisher.com to learn more and get involved.