Despite the protestations of local advocacy groups, councilmembers, and the former director of planning, Mayor Jean Stothert is moving a head with a budget proposal that would eliminate Omaha's only planner dedicated to bike and pedestrian plans.
"Despite rainy weather, about 300 people gathered this Saturday in Omaha to protest the city’s plans to eliminate its 'bike czar' position," reports Angie Schmitt.
According to Schmitt, "Protesters demanded three things, said Stephen Osberg, vice chair of the advocacy group Mode Shift Omaha: 1) They want the position maintained; 2) they want a complete streets policy; and 3) they want a citizen’s advisory board for bike and pedestrian projects."
Kevin Cole of the Omaha World-Herald provides these details of the budget cuts and the "bike czar" position in a separate article: "Mayor Jean Stothert’s 2015 budget, which goes before the City Council on Tuesday, eliminates the position of bicycle and pedestrian coordinator that Carlos Morales has held since 2010. The position, which was created by then-Mayor Jim Suttle, pays $80,000 a year and was funded with grants from Alegent Creighton Health, Live Well Omaha and the Metropolitan Area Planning Agency."
Read the full story: Hundreds Protest After Omaha Mayor Scraps City’s Only Bike/Ped Planner
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