This sign on the corner of MLK way and Union got me thinking, as I am sure it was intended to. What are our priorities in this city? The opened ended question of “What do you want?” is not good enough - we need the answer to “What do you want next?” Prioritizing our needs is always critical, but especially so in economic times like these. Are schools important?  

I think so, but that is easy to say. Are they important enough to demand that the city ensure the safety of all students and teachers in and around the schools? Absolutely.

The real test of whether it is a priority is that it comes at the top of the list - ahead of other action items.   The city is about to cut the one community officer from the east precinct.  I understand budgets are extremely tight, but we are about to spend thousands of millions of dollars on the most expensive alternative for the viaduct replacement and thousands of millions more for a new 520 bridge.  Someone must have decided that those projects are more important than the benefits that community officer provided.  I disagree.   One thing that we should all be able to count on in times like these is the comfort of knowing that when our kids are at school, they are safe.  We don’t have that comfort.  I challenge the thinking that allows us to spend billions on gold plated transportation projects while neglecting our basic needs.