The Editor:
I want to talk about something that’s very close to my heart: the safety of our kids. Every day, families and children cross at the intersections of D and 8th streets and H and 8th streets to get to school, parks and local businesses. As a parent, I see how dangerous those crossings can be. Cars move quickly through those intersections, and visibility isn’t always great – especially during the morning rush, in the evenings, or when it’s raining.
I’ve watched kids stand at the curb, waiting and waiting, unsure if it’s safe to cross – and sometimes, they take a chance because the cars just don’t stop. It’s a terrible feeling, standing there hoping drivers see them in time.
That’s why I’m asking the Blaine City Council to consider installing push-button crosswalk lights at both of those intersections. It’s a simple, effective way to help drivers notice pedestrians and give children a safe moment to cross.
We teach our kids to be careful, to look both ways, to do everything right – but it’s our responsibility as a community to make sure the streets they use every day are designed to protect them.
Blaine is a wonderful, close-knit town where people care about one another. Adding these crossing lights would be a powerful statement that we value our children’s safety and that we’re committed to building a safer, more walkable community for everyone.
Thank you for listening and for all you do to keep Blaine a safe place to raise our families.
Rachel Jacox
Blaine
