Nearly everyone in this community has thought about the Eighth Street bridges today.
Many have thought about little else.
The question is not whether fences should be built.
The lives saved over the 50-year lifespan of that fence will become part of our community’s story.
The City Council seems aware of this and seems intent finally in taking action.
A solution will be engineered and bid on, funds will be appropriated and committees will deliberate.
Perhaps we will have our fences complete by this time next year.
Most of the citizens in Tuesday’s City Council meeting did not go there hoping to see a solution by next year.
They want a solution now, even if temporary.
Even if it impedes the view.
Almost everyone in this community is scared that the next headline will read “Another jumper.”
Our fears will be realized over the course of this next year or so if we do not take some immediate action.
The city can take action today.
It could erect a temporary barrier.
It very likely has the materials on hand.
It can direct city staff to do it.
It would not be a pretty fence, but it might slow down a desperate, impulsive, probably young person long enough to save his or her life, so we might not have to read that headline.
The alternative is, we will.
Jesse Farmer,
Port Angeles