Safer Oakland
Saturday, August 16, 2003
Get involved and join in! If you could spend a little time helping with some of the projects mentioned below email us at:
SaferOakland@optonline.net
Now is the time to make a difference! We can do this together.
Would you be interested in posting a sign in your yard? We are trying to rallying a group of residents to work on this project. Is this something you could help with?
We want to get the message out to the adults via community organizations. Could you put together a video or make a presentation? Are you good at organizing people and places? Maybe coordinating this is something you could do?
We need you to attend the Town Council Meetings....they start at 8p.m. You could leave after the first time they open the meeting to the public. There is strength in numbers.
' been having laptop problems. Sorry for the delay in posting.
Here are the latest emails:
The sign is out on the Powdermill side today.
I am glad to hear that the police were in the area.
Keep up the great work!
R
Hi from 19 Monhegan Ave. I just wanted to let you know that my signs came today. I have Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 also No Need to Speed. I will have one up everyday. My 17 year old son's friends are always here so they will see it in their faces everyday. I pray this helps. Thanks again
I think speeding is a huge problem with the teenagers in this town, just yesterday while attempting to make a left turn on Ramapo Valley Road cars stopped in a single lane to allow me to turn, when coming along in a lane that was there and not stopping and speeding was a car filled with teenagers.
Teens caused the accident on Pawnee and Hiawatha in June !! If tougher speeding laws in this town take place it needs to be taught to the teens learning how to drive.
Another idea bumber stickers given out in town to be placed on cars and speed limits signs, they should read:
"PLEASE READ......DON'T SPEED"
C.L.
Thank you for helping the borough get the word out to our local motorists to slow down and respect each other. As mentioned at the council meetings, as well as by the PD, we cannot do it alone. This is, as it should be, a community effort.
As DPW Liaison, I asked Asst. Supt. Marcucilli to look at applying signs on all DPW vehicles to remind people to slow down. He has ordered the stickers are the trucks should all have them on the tailgates.
The Mayor and I, in concert with Councilman Biale, reacted immediately to the intersection problems at Pawnee/Iroquois. The Mayor asked for and got the additional reflectors on the stop sign poles and I suggested the addition of the stop ahead signs to prepare drivers for the stop signs on Iroquois. I had researched and contacted our engineers to begin the process of evaluating the intersection for the possibility of a 4-way stop sign. The criteria are being looked at now and we are moving forward with that.
What I had heard loud and clear not only at the PD meeting, but over the course of my term, was that people are speeding all over town.
From your site I see Powdermill and Truman have been mentioned. I know who the young man is in the black Mustang on Truman and will speak to his father. The PD placed the RADAR trailer on Lenape Lane last week to remind people of their speed.
As a career police officer (18+ years) in Ridgefield Park, I am well aware of what can and cannot be done regarding these issues. I can tell you that I will use everything at my disposal to ensure the continued safety of our residents.
If there is anything else I can do, do not hesitate to email me at mcguire@oakland-nj.org or call 337-6359.
Keep up the pressure!
Councilman Leo McGuire
Thursday, August 07, 2003
Be sure to catch a replay of last night's council meeting on channel 77.
Unfortunately the traffic analysis was not ready as expected (maybe the next meeting or in a month...)
BUT on a positive note we had a very good showing of support. It is important to continue to show the council members that the residents of OUR town want something done.
The Oakland Police are setting a good example. They are out there stopping speeders and writing tickets. Chief of Police O'Connor and Officer Senft were both in attendance last night. They presented a summary of the Traffic Meeting from last week as well as answered questions. Thank you gentlemen!
The possibility of posting a caution sign or a dangerous intersection sign was suggested and although the concept was well received by the council it never got discussed and therefore never voted on. Hence no sign.
We hope to see you at the next meetings. Remember the college students will be returning to school and the rest of us need to step up to the plate and pitch in!!
Do the Limit - 25
Here's the most current emails....
To Whom it May Concern,
While I was reading the Suburban News last night I came across the article about this e-mail service for a safer Oakland. We live on Truman Blvd., at the crest of the hill. Over the last year or so, we have witnessed a teen who drives extremely fast up and down the street on a consistent basis. Recently, a new family moved in at the corner of Lenape Lane and Truman Blvd. This family has a few children that play outside. Every time I see (and hear) this teen driving up the street, I fear that someone is going to get hit by his car. Recently, I was coming over the bridge on Lenape Lane and had to pull over as he speed by me. I don't know what his name is but he lives at the end of Truman Blvd (toward the soccer field) and drives a black convertible Mustang.
Any assistance in having him slow down would be greatly appreciated and certainly make our neighborhood safer!
Thanks,
J.D.A
I just looked at the Safer Oakland site and agree with what people are saying. I live on Seminole Ave. and have two young children. My wife and I are afraid to let them play in the front or go to the mailbox
because of the all the cars and trucks that speed up and down the hill. I am concerned that someone may lose control and end up crashing into my house. One suggestion would be to possibly have a rough road surface at various points from the top of the hill on down. I have seen the police near the bottom of the hill at times, but it has not curbed the speeding. Any information on what residents can do would be
helpful. Residents can post a yard sign as mention in an email, tell your friends and neighbors to slow down, join us in 'educating' the residents through a program we are putting together to reach out to our community organizations...
Thanks for the opportunity to voice my concerns.
J.C.
This is a great forum for residents to speak out who cannot attend or do not wish to attend the Town Council meetings. Are there any plans to post answers or replies? Presently we are posting all emails we receive. Our reply is usually a simple note to acknowledge their contribution. Since this is an open forum we will post any and all responses we receive to these postings.
I live in a very quiet residential area that is mostly used by the residents and their visitors. My home lives at the bottom of a slight hill with a 90-degree turn with a double-yellow line as a guide to show motorists which side of the road they should use. Perhaps 1 in 50 or so cars actually stays on her/his side of the double yellow. Fewer than that actually slow down enough to take the turn in a safe manner. My neighborhood is mainly comprised of families with young children (only a few residents have teenaged or gen X aged drivers in their households) and my observations seem to indicate that the speeders are habitually the same people but a diverse group...not any one type of person is speeding or driving in a reckless fashion. It would be great if everyone could slow down a bit and leave a few minutes early instead.
I would also like to comment on a busy intersection with poor visibility. The exit from IHHS has a telephone pole in the way such that you need to come out almost into the intersection in order to see around it. On the opposite side of the street is a huge tree that blocks visibility as well. But even more annoying are the drivers themselves who rarely let one another go. Especially during peak school hours at which time I completely avoid that intersection if I must leave the house. Are there any plans to move the telephone pole to a better/safer location?
Expecting homeowners to keep shrubs trimmed to ensure optimum visibility is great, but sometimes these homeowners do not realize there is an issue. Does the town notify residents of problems?
Thanks again for providing another mechanism in which to share our views.
KA
I ordered a sign from "Keeps Kids Alive - Drive 25". Just got it today and I'll start posting the sign during the day. You can see it at the corner of Powdermill and Nokomis Ave if you are in the area.
R
Let us know what you think of this sign!
After viewing the Town Council Meeting I was very encouraged by the many people who spoke regarding four way stop signs within the boro. I have lived at the corner of Andrew Ave and Iroquois Ave for 9 years. In this time I have witnessed several accidents, including one in which one of the cars involved struck my mail box and landed approx. 15 beyond the sidewalk finally coming to a stop in the middle of my lawn. On many occasions I called the Oakland Police to report speeding - along with reporting that young adults frequently would park their cars and walk into the woods at the end of Iroquois with alcohol . There were several nights that I returned home and was almost struck by speeding cars from the dead end of Iroquois while I attempted to turn in to my driveway. It is very sad that it took the loss of one of our children to make everyone understand that this cannot be tolerated any longer. I agree to a certain extent with the argument that a 4 way stop does not guarantee all parties will stop.... but if not this we must try something else. I am very pleased that this campaign has begun and that the Oakland Police department has finally decided to "ticket" residents. Unfortunately by not ticketing those residents in the past they have become enablers. People feel they are entitled to operate a vehicle in whatever manner they please because they are "residents" and will not be pulled over. It is about time the Police Department become active participants in this campaign.
n
Saturday, August 02, 2003
Reminder
Oakland Town Council Meeting
Wednesday, August 6, 2003
8:00 p.m.
Municipal Court/Council Chambers
10 Lawlor Drive
The latest emails.....
Hi
Please count me in I will do whatever needs to be done. Good news it is 12:00pm and I have watched the police stop and i believe ticketed 3 cars in front of my home. I hope they keep up the good work. I have told everybody I know to slow down cause the police are cracking down.
L.
I just found your web site and think it is a great idea. I will now keep checking it for updates and for your next meeting.
Some suggestions:
1 - post a message on Oakland TV
2 - Maybe the volunteers at Oakland TV could do a story / show on the
speeding issue.
Problem spot:
The entire length of Powdermill is a raceway. This area also has a large
contingent of children under 10 years old and it is a very big concern.
Keep up the good work.
Anonymous
Thank you for making this web site available. I am appalled by the death of that poor young boy, and would like to add my two cents.
IHHS has received a grant to have a patrolman in the school. It would be wonderful when school gets out at 2:38 to have him posted at the corner of Yawpo and Page. There he can have a first hand account of how "some" of the student drivers blast down Page Drive. Some of them making the left hand turn on two wheels! The crossing guard doesn't seem to be able to be effective at all. It might also be a possibility when the morning announcements at IHHS are made to have a gentle daily reminder to the students not to speed.
This suggestion may take some coordination and maybe an attorney's input. At the town council's meetings, in the background behind the dais, license plate numbers on oat tag paper can be displayed from habitual speeders in town. Residents of Oakland while going about their everyday lives can jot down the tag numbers of speeders and submit them to your web site. A pattern might evolve. If we can keep one person from harm this might be worth it.
I support your efforts. You young people are doing a wonderful job and my sincere sympathy to all of you on the pasting of your friend Bob.
Traffic Meeting Summation
The meeting was a good forum to express concerns, share thoughts but more importantly to start to formulate a plan of action. The Police were very willing to share their expertise with us and explain their role in regard to the matter of speeding. Many worthwhile suggestions were discussed.
1. Clear line of view at stop signs. Police will enforce town ordinance by asking owner to correct problem items (trim hedges, cut back overgrowth, etc.). We, the property owner, will have 10 days to comply, after that the town will do the necessary work and charge the property owner. Currently there should be a clear line of view for 50 feet.
2. The Police will continue using the speed trailer to make us aware of our speed. As well as using radar and the new motorcycles to help keep the speeding in check.
3. The Police will issue written warnings as well as speeding violation tickets. Many residents were encouraging this course of action. DO THE LIMIT 25 or get a summons.
4 On a more positive note, ideas like Education came up.
*Nation wide programs like Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 could be adopted.
*Yard signs reminding all of us of the local speed limit.
*Address the residents of Oakland from many different avenues.:
a. Community organizations, the list can obtain from Oakland's website
b. Friday folders in the schools
c. Back to School Night
d. Encourage the passengers (kids) to remind drivers to DO THE LIMIT 25
e. Churches
f. Article in Crossroad our town newsletter
g. Write to the newspapers
Other goals would be to get motorist in Oakland to stop for pedestrians and clear the existing walkways so they are pass able.
There was a suggestion to publish the names of speeding convictions in our local paper. Many questions arose from that.
DO THE LIMIT 25 We are hopeful that other good things will follow, a Safer Oakland
So tell us what you think and how you want to help?
Email us at
SaferOakland@optonline.net
Many hands make light work.
Wednesday, July 30, 2003
The two traffic meetings with Police Chief O'Connor, Lt. Brown and Officer Senft today were informative. I left the meetings feeling hopeful that we can make some changes and have a Safer Oakland. Look for the meeting summary to be posted here tomorrow.
Here are the emails SaferOakland received this evening.
I know of a very unsafe location with poor visibility. When you come down Iroquois Ave. toward Pawnee Ave. from Manito Ave. You stop at the stop sign and cannot see up the hill because of the way over grown bushes. You end up having to pull out almost to the centerline before you can see if a car is coming down Pawnee. Those bushes along the rock wall need to be cut back behind the curb line. You would think the homeowner would be a bit smarter after a fatal crash there only recently. I live on Manito Ave. and drive this way every day. Please help us all out by getting those bushes cut.
Thank you
T. C.
P.S. We really need to start enforcing the no overnight parking on Manito Ave. Cars are parked in the street all night even when there is plenty of space in their driveway. A few tickets would go along way in correcting this problem. It would also give us much needed revenue.
I live on Pawnee Avenue in Oakland where Robert was robbed of his life. I drive down every weekday to take my son to school and I am reminded everyday (as I'm sure so are others) of that poor boy's family's terrible loss. Just last week I was driving down Pawnee and noticed the police equipment that indicates your speed when a young girl/woman pulled behind me. I was breaking, because I was, first of all doing the speed limit, second of all, going down a hill, when out of no where, this person, passes me, yes, passes me....on a double yellow line in the road. She was completely on the other side of the road! I picked up my cell phone to report this reckless driving to the police, but couldn't make out her license plate because she was flying down the road. Thankfully, an Oakland police officer was at the bottom of Pawnee, I assume, w/ radar and pulled her over.
I couldn't help but pull next to her and the police officer to mention that she not only was speeding down Pawnee, she also passed me on a double yellow line in the road. Her response, "I thought you were pulling over?" I also mentioned that I have my son in the car and oh, how easily we forget the young man who died up the street because of people like you!!!
M.
So pleased to read of the formation of SaferOakland Group. My husband
attended meeting today and commented it was a good meeting. If there is any way I
can be of help, please advise.
Thank you.
T. C.
Hi,
We are parents of three preschool-aged children. We live on Seminole and during the school year see many students walking up past our house to go to Heights School. In a couple of years, we will be walking our children to school as well.
The problem is, parents drive well over the 25 MPH speed limit both in the morning to drop off their children, as well as in the afternoon to pick them up. I am so concerned that there will be an accident caused by this speeding on Seminole. I cannot pull out of my driveway at all during these hours. Neighbors have complained about the same thing.
We are at an ideal spot for the police to sit and ticket or at least clock the cars that go by. Our driveway is going to be 3 cars wide in a short time, and we would like to offer the space to the police. They could make TONS of money just ticketing people, and at the very least, seeing the police may alert drivers to their speed. Perhaps also a speed-checking electronic device would help?
We could be contacted at XXXXX if anyone would like to pursue the free use of our property for this cause
Warm regards,
T. & H. F.
Wednesday, July 30, is the Traffic Meeting (either 10:00am or 7:00pm).
Our Police Department will meet with us to share their projected plans, to answer questions and work with us to make a Safer Oakland. Please make every effort to attend one of the meetings.
Join us in the Municipal Court for this very important first formal meeting.
Let us know what you think!!
Here are today’s thoughts from Oakland Residents that we received through our email.
KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25®
This national program could help reduce speeding within Oakland.
http://www.keepkidsalive.com/
K.S. 7/28/03
(great site!!! Check it out! This could be a great jumping off point for all of us.)
I also would like to see a safer Oakland. I know you are friends of Robert and that he was killed in an "accident", but that "accident" was at a controlled intersection. I still see the skid marks that start well before the Stop Sign and go almost completely through the intersection. It looks like over 25mph to me. Am I the only one who thinks it's strange that no tickets were issued to the other car? I wish you success in making Oakland safer.
Thank you,
J. B. 7/29/03
Thursday, July 24, 2003
Last night was the first of many Oakland Council meetings. Things went well for our first meeting. We were met by many supporters. Our missions to make Oakland a better place to live for everyone.
On another note, the police department will be having a meeting where our concerns can be brought to their attention. The meeting will be on Wednesday July 30th at 10am and 7pm. Hope to see everyone there!
-Will
Tuesday, July 22, 2003
We know there are many people in our town that share our concerns about the speed drivers are going on our local roads. Let's work together to make some changes that could save a life. We will use this site to post emails that we get at our SaferOakland@optonline.net account.
Our goal is to slow drivers down as well as to keep everyone informed and connected. Let's make this a place we can share our thoughts.
Please share your constructive and inspiring ideas as concerned citizens of Oakland, NJ with us
And while you are at it, slow down as you drive on our local roads :-)
Welcome to Safer Oakland's Blog. Come here for updates. Our first project is making the intersection at Pawnee and Iroquis safer.
