Open letter to Elk Grove Mayor, City Council - Address this traffic hazard before there are more deaths
“Does someone have to be killed before this council understands why this condition cannot be approved?”
Mayor and Council,
I am so upset after watching and listening to Allison on this Elk Grove News video regarding the death of her son, Connor Lopez. I knew of the senseless crash because my sister happens to work with Allison’s husband.
As you saw for yourself, listening to Allison, Connor’s death was devastating, causing imaginable grief for his family and our community.
This is why I am so angry, and why I cannot sit idly by: Those of us who live on Sheldon Road, and many others who don’t, know that the left-hand turn lane into WinCo is very dangerous. I don’t know how many times, over many years, I have had to slam on my brakes because a car was making an unsafe left turn because they were in such a hurry to get to their grocery shopping or a Taco Bell fix.
That is why, over 15 years ago, Elk Grove Coalition Advocating Proper Planning (EGCAPP), along with many other active residents, beseeched the Elk Grove City Council, when approving the housing project next to WinCo, not to allow any ingress or egress through the WinCo parking lot.
Why?
Because the additional traffic would cause even more likelihood for horrible accidents. Sadly, what we said at the time was, “Does someone have to be killed before this council understands why this condition cannot be approved?”
Well, guess what? Once again, our warnings fell on deaf ears.
And if you need any more of a reminder that something needs to be done immediately, drive by Connor’s memorial at the site where he was killed.
In closing, I know three of you have sons. Put yourselves in Allison’s shoes. All five of you need to demand that Public Works and EGPD get on solving this issue immediately before another parent’s child is tragically killed.
Constance Conley, Elk Grove, Calif.
