Tonight’s council meeting zeroed in on 19th St.: neighbors asked for timelines, parity with other corridors and action now. The board heard that focus is shifting from 10th Street to 19th and Third streets, with outreach and a feasibility study planned — but frustration boiled over about delays and safety.
What you’ll see:
- 19th St. timelines pressed: when will outreach happen, and will it match the pace seen on 10th?
- Safety first plea: an alderperson calls the Cook & 19th underpass “uncrossable,” points to overgrowth and illegal dumping, and asks why designated funds aren’t fixing hazards now.
- Bike trail pushback: a challenge to pause a trail segment until long-promised 19th St. rail corridor work is delivered for east side residents.
You’ll also hear a big shift on public health response: a “treatment first, transport second” model using opioid funds to get the right help to people facing addiction, mental health crises, and homelessness — plus a push to align it with countywide recommendations to make it stronger.
Public comment brought the urgency:
- “Words to action” on the Massey Commission: calls for real investment — ambulance service, harm reduction, mental health, housing tools — over more policing and small pilots.
- Hunger warning: with possible SNAP pauses, local data shows surging food insecurity; the ask was clear — budget for food initiatives, not riot gear.
- Show up for the community: after a neighborhood tragedy, a resident called out uneven response times and asked officials to be visibly present for grieving families.
If 19th St., safety, and how the city responds to crisis affect you, this one’s worth your time.
