You can't fight city hall...

SAYS WHO!!!???? I think the first time I heard that was on the Brady Bunch. They haven't met me yet.
I went to my first ever Nashua City Zoning Board meeting last night. I was invited because they need to expand the fire lane behind the school, and we are property abutters. Fine. I see the need for a bigger fire lane. I am a safety person. I just wanted to know how the tree line was going to be affected.
You can imagine my surprise when the engineer started to discuss drop off and pick up patterns and how the use of this "fire lane" for parent use would be good for the school.
What?!! I was horrified. As a property abutter I was told fire lane. Not access road for inconsiderate parents. Not increased traffic where my child walks to school. My hearing impaired child. You've got to be kidding me.
I consider myself to be a fair public speaker. I do well when I am prepared. I was not prepared. I was visibly shaking during my address to the board. Both times. Furious does not begin to describe my thoughts. I originally wanted to know how many trees were to be cut down. Now I am thinking, how on earth are we going to get to school and home from school safely? Not to mention my now very public backyard. Noisy backyard. Polluted by exhaust backyard. Where my kids play. Where I could sunbathe, if I so chose to do. Not any more. I've lost enough equity. Where is my property value going? The list goes on.
So I spent the majority of today worrying. The rest of the day was spent on action. I called parents in the neighborhood. I called neighbors with a vested interest. I called my mom. Several times. I called my ALDERMAN. He needs to step up to the plate NOW. I called the fire marshal. I am going to be informed, and I am going to fight my fight. I may lose, but you can not tell me that this is going forward without the proper amount of notification to the neighborhood and the consideration of alternatives.
I am a green person. If you have been following this blog you know that. I recycle EVERYTHING. I bring things home just to recycle them. I hang my laundry outside. Now everyone can see my skibbies as they are drying. Without intending to, the school is proposing to de-incentivise walking to school. What was once a nice safe route is now clouded in traffic patterns. By the WORST offenders. Parents who could care less. Dropping off kids while texting their BFFs about lunch dates and pedicures. It will just be a matter of time before someone gets hurt. Right now the offenders just annoy those who do follow the rules as there are no children in their direct path. We are deliberately putting them there. It's a recipe for disaster. I pray to God above that I do not ever post an "I told you so" here.

Editorial note: As I was writing this I was called by my dad to inform me that I was on TV-the hearing was posted on the public access channel. I watched it and am so glad I did. Just to get a new perspective. I did OK. The shaking was more internal than I thought it was. My mom told me that I did well. OK, she's my mom, biased, but it still made me feel better. Much better. This whole thing is just a fiasco. To those out there that I call and vent to-THANK YOU. Right now I might really need you. Just to talk. Just to listen. Just for advice. I need you and thank you so much for being there for me. You have no idea how much it means to me.

OK, so I am still on board for community action. Let's see what we can do. All in favor say "Aye".
I'll keep you posted. If you can make the planning meeting-please do so. If you live in ward 9 and are concerned, please call Alderman Cox at 603-891-0263.

Thanks-
Kristin "The Activist"