Dear Willow Glen Elementary Families,
I hope this message finds you well, especially as the winter holidays quickly approach. I am writing to inform you of a concerning and dangerous incident that took place near our school, and to urge your immediate support in helping to improve pedestrian safety for our children.
On Thursday, December 19th, at approximately 3:15–3:17 pm, I was crossing the street with my son at the intersection of Lincoln Avenue and Minnesota Avenue in front of Willow Glen Elementary. Despite the traffic light being red and a crossing guard present, a driver sped through the intersection, narrowly missing us. It was a close call that could have ended in tragedy. I have already filed a police report about the incident, but I believe this issue must be addressed urgently to prevent further accidents.
How You Can Help:
To ensure the safety of all students and families, we are asking for your help in advocating for increased enforcement and safety measures at this intersection. Per James A. Bittner, PE, TE, Acting Division Manager, Traffic Safety/Vision Zero for San Jose, the more parents who voice their concerns, the stronger our request will be for improved safety measures.
Please take a moment to complete a “Request for Enforcement” via the link below. This simple step will help make a real case for increased traffic monitoring and enforcement at critical times, like drop-off and pick-up hours.
Click here to submit your request for enforcement:
https://www.sjpd.org/about-us/organization/bureau-of-field-operations/traffic-enforcement-unit/request-for-enforcement
We need your support to push for:
- A review of traffic safety measures near Willow Glen Elementary, including the possibility of flashing lights, better signage, and improved speed controls.
- Increased monitoring and enforcement of traffic laws during high-traffic times, especially when students and families are crossing the street.
- Collaboration with local authorities to improve pedestrian crossings and evaluate traffic patterns around the school.
- Clear communication with the community on how the district and city plan to address these safety concerns.
Your participation in submitting this request is absolutely crucial to help keep our children safe. Together, as we do everything, we can ensure that this type of reckless driving will not be tolerated and that our school zone becomes a safer place for all.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter, and for your continued support in safeguarding our students. If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to contact me at any time of day.
Sincerely,
Theisha Rush
PTA Member and current PTA Board’s Membership Lead
Willow Glen Elementary School
theisha@yahoo.com 408.497.3927