March 7 Campbell Reporter Article on STNA

Interesting article in yesterday's Campbell Reporter about the demise of the Association. I wonder if it will generate any renewed interest?

The article that Andy's referring to can be found online at the Campbell Report site. Here's a link to the article:

Neighborhood Association is no longer galvanized on issues (Campbell Reporter - Mar. 8, 2006)

Good question Andy, what kind of interest did we generate in the past when STNA had coverage in the Campbell Reporter? I hope that some bystanders who enjoyed the presence of the association see the article and become encouraged to pitch in.

Interesting comment:

"They were saying that it isn't safe for kids to walk to school, but kids have been walking down those road for 50 years," Keegan said. "But now that they're in, it isn't so bad."

If anything, I think it's much less safe for kids (or any pedestrians) walking nowadays. My only complaint about living here are some drivers. I have seen and heard A LOT of people speed excessively -- I am talking 40-50+ mph in a 25 mph zone. I see people almost on a daily basis blowing through stop signs, particularly off Sunnyoaks and Virginia. Maybe that's an issue that will bring people together.

Another complaint is the trash in my front yard. I live down the street from the Farm Dairy Market and I am constantly picking up other people's trash. People either litter in my front yard or it blows into my yard as it sometimes gets rather windy. I occasionally get pet droppings in my front yard as well.

Pam, you've raised a really important problem in our neighborhood. Is there anything that can be done about the extreme speeding? I've noticed it, too - I hear them screeching the tires all the way inside the house all the time. It really worries me. (I don't know as if it's enough to resurrect STNA, but it's worth talking about to see if someone has a possible solution.)

Sure, they could put cops out on Virginia near Sunnyoaks. I find it pretty preposterous that I was pulled over for allegedly going 35 mph on Sunnyoaks (the speed limit is 25 mph, and I KNOW I was only going 30 mph, if that) when people blow through stop signs and I've seen a lot of people drive 40-50+ in that area. Ours is not a crime-ridden area but a heightened police presence won't hurt. If somebody wanted to go door to door to talk to people about the traffic issue, I'm sure a lot of people would be receptive. But you're right, it's not likely to bring STNA back. I don't think people will react until something really bad happens.

Yeah traffic issues are the one issue that will get people together in our neighborhood. Everyone shows up and complains. Maybe the Campbell PD will increase enforcement for a couple of months, and things slow down for a while. But what can STNA do about the speeders and the stop sign running? Everyone complains about traffic, and we can do something about it.

Moby Fan points out the problem, just as Pogo said years ago, “we have met the enemy, and he is us” So stepped up enforcement means that people in the neighborhood get tickets. Those speeders we complain about are ourselves and our neighbors. What speed is too fast? The speed limit is 25mph . Going 26mph is a violation of the posted speed limit. Is the reality that the laws should apply to everyone else, but me? Is there any constructive project that STNA can accomplish that will solve the problem?

The nexus of this thread is. Is there enough interest in STNA to warrant starting again? Would traffic, speeding, moving violations be reduced if the streets were improved? Would the neighbors support traffic calming measures like on Burrows Road? There is a vocal group that wants to maintain and rural feel of the neighborhood. To them that means no curbs, no street lights, and roads that are a quilt of road patches. Is there support to make those changes to the neighborhood plan (STNP) ?