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News
Councilwoman Reyes-Uranga Wants Council To Take "Constructive Steps To Protect Residents" In 710 Fwy Expansion Plans, Calls For Formation of Council Committee
 (May 1, 2003) -- Just days after a standing room only crowd packed a WLB community meeting (Silverado Park, April 24, right) on 710 freeway expansion plans, and meetings elsewhere showed frustration over how information was conveyed to the public, 7th district Councilwoman Tonia Reyes-Uranga urged her City Council colleagues to "take constructive steps to protect residents" by forming a Council committee to oversee 710 freeway expansion.
Councilwoman Reyes-Uranga's proposal follows a statement from LB City Hall acknowledging in effect that so-called "least cost" designs may have unacceptable "costs" and urging the I-710 Corridor Study Group to reconsider "build" alternatives to minimize potential negative consequences.
Responding to city staff comments delivered at a May 1 meeting of the I-710 Corridor Study "Technical Advisory Committee," Councilwoman Reyes-Uranga said in a written release:
I think considering the impacts to our neighborhoods and our residents should have been the highest priority from the beginning. It is unfortunate that so many families were not informed of the potential impacts of the freeway expansion.
I think today's [staff] statement is one small first step in the right direction, but it is troubling that it took an outraged community to wake this City up and realize the serious impacts to our residents."
Councilwoman Reyes-Uranga indicated she would like the Council form a special Committee, or direct an existing Committee, to develop a LB strategy and improve outreach efforts.
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