Blaming NIMBY rather than answering the question
Residents questioning the safety of the Moraga Canyon Specific Plan by posting “Is it Safe” signs around town were accused of using public safety as a “boogeyman” to conceal their dislike of “poor people” coming to Piedmont. That’s a cheap shot given how poorly the question of how the project could impact emergency evacuation is addressed in the MCSP. The Fehr-Peers traffic analysis doesn’t address how evacuation on Moraga Ave will be affected by the new development nor does the city’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. The Fire Chief says times have changed since 1991 (Oakland Fire) and that Moraga Avenue is just part of a larger regional evacuation network consisting of Pleasant Valley Road and Route 13. He cited that back-ups from the Paradise Fire actually occurred in Chico. At least 5 victims died in their vehicles in Paradise and the Chief would do better to cite evacuation lessons learned from Santa Rosa, Lahaine, Palisades and Altadena and how they might apply to the MCSP.
Residents were also chided for the bad graphics of the “Is it Safe” sign, which is petty. Perhaps if residents had access to a communications department, paid consultants and UC grad students they could produce better quality graphics. As the saying goes, “more PR less ER” when selling a project. The sign depicts children playing close to a rush-hour street when the proposed housing is in Blair Park and the message is obvious – is it safe to have kids playing close to one of Piedmont’s fastest and busiest streets? What will kids do when living across a busy street from a prime play space – diligently wait at the crossing light? This question need not be asked with a Corporation Yard housing site as kids and play space are on the same side of the street. This is not an easy question to address and it isn’t in the MCSP. No one is being “disingenuous” by asking it now.