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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW New entry sign designs approved ... AHS athletes accused of robbing pizza delivery person ... As It Was: Jacksonville’s Chinese New Year ... New entry sign designs approved ... AHS athletes accused of robbing pizza delivery person ... As It Was: Jacksonville’s Chinese New Year ... GUEST OPINION Guest Opinion: Another Nevada Street Bridge letter Comment By Roy Sutton DailyTidings.com By Roy Sutton Posted Feb. 17, 2016 at 12:01 AM By Roy Sutton Posted Feb. 17, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News A letter entitled “Bridge to nowhere” (Jan. 22) objected to the proposed Nevada Street bridge over Bear Creek. I replied with a letter entitled “Bridge to the future” (Daily Tidings, January 27), wherein I pointed out that the bridge would enable a new bus route that would serve a large population and, thus, help diminish Downtown Ashland’s traffic and parking problems. Now the letter writer, Marty Breon, has continued the Tidings-based conversation with a Guest Opinion piece entitled “Nevada Street bridge is not in the plan.” (Feb. 1. The plan she refers to is Ashland’s Comprehensive Master Plan of 1996. Note the date! Numerous high-density developments have been built — and are being built — along that route since 1996, as well as the North Mountain Park and Nature Center!) I appreciate her civic concern and perseverance in addressing what she sees as a significant misstep for the city government. However, she has based her new argument on an outdated plan — the master plan of 1996. She apparently is unaware of Ashland’s Transportation System Plan (TSP) Update of 2013, which was developed with public comments meetings. (If one Googles “Ashland TSP,” then clicks on “Transportation Plan Update — City of Ashland,” and finally clicks on “ALL ROADWAY SHEETS.PDF ,” one will see a list of transportation projects, their time frames and predicted costs. Project R17 is found there with the title “E Nevada Street Extension” — i.e., the bridge — and it shows a time frame of 0-5 years.) So, you see, the bridge is in the plan — the current plan! I have become aware of this Nevada Street bridge project and the consideration of a bus loop utilizing this bridge by attending Ashland Transportation Commission meetings. She seems to imply that it was kept from the public because it was not “mentioned in Transportation Commission minutes.” Well, city committee minutes are legal documents that are required to capture formal actions, but not discussions. Since Ms. Breon apparently was not at the meetings and, thus, didn’t know of those discussions, she goes on to write “Come on, Ashland. Where is the democracy?” Okay, where is the democracy? As we all should know, we essentially live in a representative democracy: We registered voters elect a City Council and mayor to be our representatives. But we want to be aware of any potential official actions — or discussions — so we can participate in the give and take of issues that greatly concern us. It’s not practical for all of the citizens to attend every meeting of the City Council and the 14 or so city commissions/committees. There isn’t room for us, and we don’t have the time to attend all of them — especially if we don’t know what issues might pop up in all of the meetings. I’m not blaming her for not being aware of things that were acted upon three years ago. And I don’t find fault in her not attending recent meetings of the Transportation Commission because that requires an investment of much time — as I am fully aware. So what’s the answer to her statement “Give democracy a chance”? I have an answer, and it will apply to all 14 or so Ashland commissions/committees. But it will require a further opinion piece because this one has already occupied enough space. My approach — currently called Ashland CAN — will hopefully encourage Ms. Breon to unite with me and many other concerned Ashland citizens in improving city/citizen relations and actions. The letters in CAN stand for Citizens Awareness Network. Roy Sutton lives in Ashland. By Roy Sutton DailyTidings.com By Roy Sutton Posted Feb. 17, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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