|
Good morning Subscriber First Name, No Word on SAFE Streets newsletter this week, but we’ll be sharing our report card on traffic violence in Los Angeles next week, along with results from our die-in protest on the steps of LA City Hall. Spoiler alert: news about the die-in protest and traffic violence in LA went national. In the meantime, I wanted to share below two easy ways to support safer streets—one that takes just a few minutes today, and another that’s a hands-on way to help us build the case for safer infrastructure across LA County. A Personal Note on Alex Pretti Traffic violence is not a partisan issue, and I work hard to keep SAFE focused on solutions that save lives, not politics. That said, after watching the horrific videos of the shooting of Alex Pretti, I feel strongly that what was done was not right and am compelled to speak personally. A full investigation by an independent and impartial law enforcement agency is needed, and appropriate justice must be served. While I can’t control how that process unfolds, my wife and I will be out on our bikes this Saturday morning at 11:00 AM, riding with hundreds of other cyclists to honor Alex Pretti. The Alex Pretti Unity Ride will start at the VA Medical Center in Westwood. The ride is led locally by Domestique Cycling Club and is taking place at the same time as nearly 100 other unity rides, with tens of thousands of cyclists participating around the world. The broader effort is being organized by Angry Catfish, the bicycle and coffee shop in Minneapolis that Alex frequented. The team at Angry Catfish shared this: “Alex was one of us. He rode bikes, he believed in community, and he believed in justice. Whether you’re 5 or 80, you remember the first time you rode a bike—because bikes are magic, and joy itself is an act of resistance. Today, with thousands of cyclists expected nationally, we are showing not just grief, but unity. We are stronger together.” Please join us on Saturday, in unity, in joy, to be stronger together, and be sure to say hi when you see me. Thanks, as always, for staying engaged and for being part of this community.
|
