ATTENTION UCSB Students, IV Residents and friends, here is a chance to ACT! PLEASE JOIN, LIKE AND SHARE THE FOLLOWING GROUP TO HELP ORGANIZE A STUDENT RESPONSE: https://facebook/groups/1560960440805450/ SINCE 2001 THERE HAVE BEEN SEVEN (7) FATALITIES DUE TO CLIFF FALLS IN ISLA VISTA, THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE COUNTLESS INJURIES. If that number seems too high, thats because it is. This is not happening at other schools, this is preventable. The fact that even the Santa Barbara County SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT admits, Unfortunately, there is a long history of college students occasionally falling off the cliffs in Isla Vista and efforts that have been made to try and stop this from happening, is proof enough that this is an ongoing problem that needs a long-term solution. (dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2455555/Police-confirm-18-year-old-ed-died-falling-60-foot-cliff-drunken-Spring-Break-party.html) The fencing that is currently installed on the bluffs is absolutely inadequate; with even a moderate increase in the quality and security of the fence we could see cliff fall death numbers reduced drastically and begin to change the negative opinions of Isla Vista these tragedies bring with them. Ask yourself, do you want to live in a community known for being dangerous, where it is common knowledge that people fall to their deaths? I know that I do not. If you feel similarly and want to be a part of the change Isla Vista needs when it comes to cliff safety, I invite you to attend the County Planning Commissions meeting about it. WHERE: 123 E. ANAPAMU STREET WHEN: 9AM October 29, 2014 (TOMORROW) WHAT: The planning commission will be making the FINAL VOTE on the installation of Isla Vista fencing. Please come if only for a few minutes to have your thoughts heard. Tell the Planning Commission and County members that you want a safer Isla Vista, that you want adequate protection against preventable tragedies. At prior meetings, the main concerns levied were about appearance, and they were presented largely by land owners and long term residents (of which there are only about 150). In your own determination of your stance on the fencing, I urge you to consider six things: 1) The fencing will only be erected on county owned park areas which currently ALREADY HAVE FENCING 2) The proposed fencing will only be 53 high, which will not obstruct ocean views while standing for a broad majority of people 3) The CURRENT FENCING is already tall enough to obstruct your view of the ocean when you are seated or lying down - having no fence at all would be the only real way to compensate for this 4) UCSB has fenced all bluffs around the campus, and there is fencing ALMOST IDENTICAL to the proposed fence already in place at various parks in Goleta 5) This fence is meant to PREVENT cliff fall deaths and injuries, not ELIMINATE them completely. As heartbreaking as it may be to say, there is always a possibility that someone will circumvent the fence by climbing it or attempting to shimmy around it where it ends. However it will require a CONSCIOUS EFFORT - I think we can all agree that the students and young people who have so tragically lost their lives to cliff falls did not anticipate the accidents. 6) The brand new fencing will likely look much better when compared to the dilapidated two-rung wooden fence currently in place I understand that change is sometimes alarming, and that altering the Isla Vista we have all come to know and love may seem like a departure from our community values; however I could not disagree with that sentiment more. Positive change is what binds a community together, and Isla Vistas unified demand for a safer environment free from preventable tragedies is what I would call positive change. If you are interested in carpooling, I currently have 4 spaces available and I hope to fill them all. Let me know if you are also interested in driving, I would like to have a large student presence at this event. The following is a link to the PDF document for the County Planning Commission staff report for the meeting: sbcountyplanning.org/PDF/boards/CntyPC/10-29-2014/14DVP-00000-00010/Staff%20Report.pdf
Posted on: Tue, 28 Oct 2014 23:56:04 +0000
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