Letter: Smith is best bet for Low Street

Excerpted from Daily News of Newburyport (link)

“To the editor:

In Ward 5, voters have a real choice for City Council, and I hope that you will join me in voting for Owen Smith on Election Day.

As a resident of Low Street, I have seen firsthand how poor road design can lead to speeding and unsafe conditions in the neighborhood. Students of all ages walk along Low Street to get to school, but it is dangerous to cross for families that live in Ward 5 neighborhoods. While it is heartening to hear the issues on Low Street getting more attention, it shouldn’t take an election year to get basic issues of public safety the attention they deserve.

Owen has deep experience in transportation safety, and his degree in civil engineering means that he understands the process of creating safe streets from the ground up. He has been an active advocate not just for traffic calming, but also for hiring highly qualified professionals for important city positions.

Owen has been paying attention to the details, and he called loudly for the city to hire a permanent Department of Public Services director with the expertise required to properly take care of our streets.

Since the new DPS director has been at work, we have seen the beginnings of some overdue improvements, such as street sweeping and line painting on Low Street. That’s a great start, and I am voting for Owen because I know that he will continue to pay close attention to this issue and make sure the city adequately funds important infrastructure improvements. Low Street residents have been waiting for years for traffic calming, and it’s time to get the job done.

Owen knows that safety shouldn’t be political, which is why he wants to set Newburyport – and Low Street – up for success when it comes to public projects. As city councilor, I trust Owen to make thoughtful decisions that put the good of Ward 5 first. I urge you to vote for Owen so that Ward 5’s voice on the City Council is one that will work to move important city priorities forward.”

ALEXANDRIA KELLY

Newburyport