On Thursday, September 24, 2020, the Erie Times-News posted a story titled, “Erie organizations support parkway improvement plans.” Posted at 4:47, the story written in the past tense to imply it was a accurate summary of an event that had yet to occur.
Issues:
The first two hours of hearing was reserved for PennDOT and Public Officials.
PennDOTS’s proposal is for an arterial highway, not a “parkway”
Many residents have repeatedly requested the full ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT that PennDOT skipped this Spring - this was not mentioned
A pro-highway speaker was quoted without an opposition statement
The Our West Bayfront speaker is an employee of Gannon, lives in Fairview and does not represent the neighborhood residents
The BEST speaker doesn’t live in the City and is guided by Erie Insurance.
The hotel owner and heads of the Convention Center, Erie Insurance, Port Authority, UPMC Hamot who want the highway don’t live in the city.
25 of the 26 residents who waited 2 - 4 hours to speak are opposed to PennDOT’s highway plan and most have requested an ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
These organizations had one or more speakers in opposition to PennDOT’s Plan:
Connect Urban Erie, Earth Justice, Equity Coalition of Erie, NAACP, Penn Future
