The organization envisions “streets as living public places that connect people to places and to each other.
Her motivation to make Tucsons streets safer is personal.
I had a friend who was killed.
He was hit by a car, Granados explains.
I wanted to ensure I was doing my part to help.
Not long after Missal started the Living Streets Alliance job, COVID made much of his planned work impossible.
Butother thingswere still possible, he says.
He and Granados have made several very successful other things happen.
As a Living Streets Alliance volunteer in 2018, she saw firsthand how dangerous streets can be made safer.
Our project was to widen the space for pedestrians on a street downtown.
Bicycling and walking also promotes physical health and mental health.
Active, safe streets build a stronger community on multiple levels.
Missal admits it was all new turf for them.
Then temporarily shutting down a street, and then the cleanup, and then the thank you letters.
Its going to be an in-depth guide.
We’re hoping to at least get them kept in place for the entirety of the pandemic.
That was something I was super looking forward to.
I wanted to be able to hear from the community.
Then COVID happens and within a weekend, that pop in of engagement was off the table.
Switching to all-virtual communication methods was disappointing and challenging.
Were limited in the number of people we can reach.
Were really seeing the digital divide.
However, eight months into their service, Granados and Missal were given an added objective.
These shared streets, orcalles compartidas, will minimize the amount and speeds of motorized traffic.
Granados has used her Spanish fluency to help translate the outreach materials for the largely Spanish-speaking community.
It’s sounding like we’ll get out in the community for data collection, says Granados.
I am beyond proud to be joining LSA along for the ride!
We don’t want to just fade away because of COVID.
CONTINUING GOALS
Granados and Missal will continue their work until the end of 2020.
Among their to-dos:
Reporting by Amy Lennard Goehner
