Old School Uptown Establishment Never Intended to Support Safe Streets

March 23, 2015

The Uptown Bike Corridor planning phase began with a Community Advisory Meeting on June 12, 2013. This was SANDAG’s effort at community outreach to determine the best bicycle route alignments through Uptown.

After that meeting back in 2013, there was overwhelming support for protected bike lanes (cycletracks) on University Avenue.

Prior to the start of the meeting, Councilmember Todd Gloria encouraged all attendees to participate in the process. The attendees included Leo Wilson, now former chair of Uptown Planners.

Wilson later went on to oppose the Bankers Hill bike lanes by filing a lawsuit against the city citing a lack of community process along with environmental concerns.

At that 2013 meeting, Wilson rounded up his cohorts and stepped outside the meeting room well before the meeting was underway. According to an email I received back in 2013 by attorney Chris Taylor, this is what transpired:

While community members participated in the process to make Uptown's streets safe and less deadly, Leo Wilson and his buddies went outside to plot fighting a plan that would eventually receive full community support. Photo: Bruce Shank — While community members participated in the process to make Uptown’s streets safe and less deadly, Leo Wilson and his buddies went outside to plot fighting a plan that would eventually receive full community support. Photo: Bruce Shank

Prior to Leo Wilson leaving the meeting, he said to Council President Todd Gloria, “this is stupid stuff. It will never work.” Bruce Shank heard the comment. Gloria responded by saying, “well, then you better weigh in.” Bruce heard Gloria’s response, as did I (as I was watching from my seat and Todd was facing me).

A woman in a blue sweatshirt (Ann Garwood) said to Leo Wilson: “Its just a workshop. They won’t be able to do anything with it once we start filing lawsuits.” Bruce Shank heard this comment, as well.

Today, University Avenue and most other streets in Uptown remain unsafe. Wilson and his friends continue to waste valuable city funds in their frivolous lawsuit over bike lanes that keep all road users safe.

Wilson and his cohorts, determined to keep Uptown auto-centric and dangerous is rallying up support to fight safe streets. Wilson was behind the effort to shut down bike lanes on India Street and Kettner Blvd in Little Italy, he has filed a lawsuit against the Bankers Hill bike lanes, and is rallying up support to fight a safer University Avenue after deliberately choosing to not participate in the community process.

We can’t afford to let the old school auto-centric establishment gamble with your lives or your childrens’ lives. Sign this petition for a safer Uptown and please attend tomorrow‘s meeting.